Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microsegregation of oxygen in Zr-2.5Nb alloy materials

  • Published:
Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Oxygen partitioning between the primary-a andβ phases during heating at an(α + β) temperature was investigated in a Zr-2.5Nb alloy containing about 1100 ppm (wt) oxygen. Standard pressure tubes used in CANDU reactors have been produced from this material by hot extrusion of billets after preheating in the (α + β) temperature range. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) was found most suitable for oxygen mapping and for determining quantitatively the extent of preferential oxygen enrichment of primary-a grains in pressure tube samples previously subjected to experimental preheat treatments at an (α +β) temperature of 870° for different soak times up to 24 hours. For the (α α β)-treated materials, the oxygen concentration in the primary-a grains increased with soak time, reaching up to about 8 times the concentration in the primary-β matrix region. Samples from two standard pressure tubes with different fracture toughness properties were also examined. Signi-ficant differences between these tubes were found in their primary-α grain size and in the levels of oxygen enrichment of the a grains, which could provide an explanation for the difference in the toughness of these tubes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. B.A. Cheadle, S.A. Aldridge, and CE. Ells:Can. Metall. Q., 1972, vol. 11 (1), pp. 121–27.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. B.A. Cheadle and R.M. Condie: Report No. CRNL-1333, AECanada L, Chalk River Laboratories, Chalk River, ON, Canada, Jan. 1977, pp. 1-28.

  3. B.A. Cheadle, CE. Coleman, and H. Licht:Nucl. Technol, 1982, vol. 57, pp. 413–25.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. I. Aitchison and P.H. Davies:J. Nucl. Mater., 1993, vol. 203, pp. 206–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. J.R. Theaker, R. Choubey, G.D. Moan, S.A. Aldridge, L. Davis, R.A. Graham, and CE. Coleman:Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: 10th Int. Symp., ASTM STP 1245, ASTM, Philadelphia, PA, 1993, pp. 221–42.

    Google Scholar 

  6. R. Choubey: Whiteshell Laboratories, Pinawa, MB, Canada, unpublished work, 1990.

  7. C.K. Chow, CE. Coleman, R.R. Hosbons, P.H. Davies, M. Griffiths, and R. Choubey:Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: 9th Int. Symp., ASTM STP 1132, ASTM, Philadelphia, PA, 1992, pp. 246–75.

    Google Scholar 

  8. R.S. Hockett, D.A. Reed, and D.H. Wayne:Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry: SIMS, V.A. Benninghoven, R.J. Colton, D.S. Simons, and H.W. Werner, eds., Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1986, pp. 264–67.

    Google Scholar 

  9. V. Fidleris:J. Nucl. Mater., 1974, vol. 54, pp. 199–211.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. A.M. Garde, H.M. Chung, and T.F. Kassner:Acta Metall., 1978, vol. 26, pp. 153–66.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. R. Choubey, J.J. Jonas, and B.A. Cheadle:Metall. Trans. A, 1982, vol. 13A, pp. 1957–64.

    Google Scholar 

  12. J.P. Pemsler:J. Electrochem. Soc., 1958, vol. 105 (6), pp. 315–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials and Mechanics Branch, AECL Research, Whiteshell Laboratories, ROE 1L0, Pinawa, MB, Canada

    R. Choubey (Research Scientist)

  2. Metals Technology Laboratories, CANMET, K1A 0G1, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    J. A. Jackman (Program Manager)

Authors
  1. R. Choubey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. A. Jackman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Choubey, R., Jackman, J.A. Microsegregation of oxygen in Zr-2.5Nb alloy materials. Metall Mater Trans A 27, 431–440 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02648420

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02648420

Keywords

Search

Navigation