About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2027 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Additive Manufacturing for Energy Industry
|
| Presentation Title |
Additive Manufacturing of Modular Nb-1Zr Refractory Alloys for Advanced Nuclear Applications |
| Author(s) |
Holden C. Hyer, Clement Ekaputra, Amit Shyam, Jeff Brookins |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Holden C. Hyer |
| Abstract Scope |
Refractory alloys like Nb-1Zr are critical for advanced nuclear systems operating at extreme temperatures. While legacy space reactor programs demonstrated the material's baseline potential, modern additive manufacturing (AM) enables new design paradigms. This work investigates the fabrication of modular Nb-1Zr components reinforced with dispersoids (e.g., ZrC, ZrO2) using laser powder bed fusion. Both an SLM125HL with standard beam-shape and an Aconity Midi capable of advanced beam shaping strategies to refine the grain structure and reduce surface roughness, are used to process the Nb-1Zr powders. To evaluate microstructural stability, advanced characterization—including transmission electron microscopy, neutron diffraction, and synchrotron techniques—is employed to analyze secondary phases and dispersoid distributions in printed material. By correlating AM process physics and beam shaping with high-resolution structural data, results demonstrating the impact of these strategies on defect mitigation and microstructural stability will be presented, bridging legacy refractory performance with modern manufacturing capabilities for next-generation nuclear applications. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Additive Manufacturing, High-Temperature Materials, Nuclear Materials |