About this Abstract |
Meeting |
2020 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
Symposium
|
Computational Materials Science and Engineering of Materials in Nuclear Reactors
|
Presentation Title |
Stabilizing Gamma Hydrides in Zr through Mechanical Stress |
Author(s) |
Jacob L. Bair, Nicole R Overman, Shawn L Riechers, Ewa Ronnebro, David A Collins, David G Abrecht |
On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Jacob L. Bair |
Abstract Scope |
Recent studies have indicated that certain mechanical stresses may stabilize otherwise metastable hydride phases in Zr. The delta phase is extremely brittle and leads to issues with the mechanical integrity of nuclear fuel rod claddings. The metastable zeta and gamma phases are much higher in ductility, making them preferable to the brittle delta phase. In this study, experimental and computational approaches are used to determine stress and heat treatments which could stabilize gamma hydrides. A phase field model tests the stability of gamma hydrides in several common reactor temperature conditions with a variety of applied stresses. Samples from rolled Zr sheets charged to varying H concentrations are treated according to the modeling parameters and studied with EBSD to determine the fraction of each hydride phase. Fiducial marks are used to study the same local areas with AFM to obtain a microstructural map of local hardness correlated with each phase. |
Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Supplemental Proceedings volume |