SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1977
STP35585S

Irradiation Response of the Ordered Phase Zr Al

Source

The ordered face-centered cubic (fcc) zirconium-aluminum phase (Zr3Al, Ll2 type) is being evaluated as a future CANada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactor pressure-tube material on the hypothesis that ordering may lead to a reduction in rates of atomic diffusion and dislocation climb, and, hence, to a reduction of in-reactor creep. Experiments have been performed to measure the effects of fast neutrons on the dimensional stability, tensile properties, and corrosion resistance, in addition to measuring the in-reactor creep rates of a Zr-8.6Al alloy.

Irradiation-induced dimensional changes (in the absence of an applied stress) occurred which differed significantly in nature from those of Zircaloy and Zr-2.5Nb. The changes appear to have been caused by a combination of growth and swelling and decrease with increasing temperature; the dimensional changes appear to level off at 0.3 percent after 2 × 1024 neutrons (n)/m2 at 600 K. The long-term creep resistance at 570 K, deduced from bent-beam stress relaxation, is expected to be better than that of Zr-2.5Nb provided that the dimensional change does in fact level off. The tensile strength and ductility are superior to those of Zr-2.5Nb, while the resistance to aqueous corrosion is as good, provided that the α-zirconium phase content is ⩽1 percent by volume.

Author Information

Causey, AR
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario, Canada
Fidleris, V
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario, Canada
Rosinger, HE
Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment, Pinawa, Manitoba
Schulson, EM
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario, Canada
Urbanic, VF
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario, Canada
Price: $25.00
Contact Sales
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Developed by Committee: B10
Pages: 437–454
DOI: 10.1520/STP35585S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4705-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0602-4