SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1987
STP28126S

Influence of Impurities and Temperature on the Microstructure of Zircaloy-2 and Zircaloy-4 after the Beta → Alpha Phase Transformation

Source

The formation of the basketweave structure (BW) or the parallel plate (PP) structure after β quench is known to depend upon C, Si, and P content. Traces of other impurities, volatile at the melting point of zirconium but insoluble at lower temperatures, are the most efficient in changing the as-quenched microstructures. The effect of the β heat treatment temperature varies according to the nature of insoluble phases initiating the βα phase transformation. When Si is the main impurity, cooling down from 1050°C leads to a parallel plate structure, whereas β heat treatments performed at higher temperatures promote a basketweave structure. This change of microstructure has been attributed to the variation of silicon solubility in the β phase with temperature. Volatile impurities with a low solubility result in different behavior under similar heat treatment; cooling down from 1050°C leads to the basketweave structure and fast cooling from 1200°C gives a parallel plate structure depending on impurity level.

Author Information

Charquet, D
Centre de Recherches de CEZUS, Ugine, France
Alheritiere, E
Centre de Recherches de CEZUS, Ugine, France
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Details
Developed by Committee: B10
Pages: 284–290
DOI: 10.1520/STP28126S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5004-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0935-3