TY - JOUR
T1 - The characterisation of second phases in the Zr-Nb and Zr-Nb-Sn-Fe alloys: A critical review
AU - Harte, Allan
AU - Griffiths, Malcolm
AU - Preuss, Michael
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - The nature and evolution of the Fe environment in Zr-Nb and Zr-Nb-Sn-Fe systems is essential to alloy performance during corrosion, hardening and irradiation-induced growth. Unfortunately, there is ambiguity in the literature regarding the characterisation of secondary phases in these systems. The presence, or not, of Fe in β-Nb phase has been a source of disagreement. In ternary ZrNbFe intermetallics, identical compositions have been designated as Zr(Nb,Fe)2 or (Zr,Nb)3Fe. We show that while Zr(Nb,Fe)2 is commonly reported, it is not always justified. The cubic phase (Zr,Nb)2Fe is easily identified, but its composition is more variable after low temperature heat treatments. We demonstrate the need for correlative approaches in the assessment of phase composition, crystallography and local Fe environment under different heat treatment regimes. Irradiation effects allow us to draw clues regarding phase designation, but there is diverse behaviour under irradiation due to initial phase composition, irradiation dose rate and temperature.
AB - The nature and evolution of the Fe environment in Zr-Nb and Zr-Nb-Sn-Fe systems is essential to alloy performance during corrosion, hardening and irradiation-induced growth. Unfortunately, there is ambiguity in the literature regarding the characterisation of secondary phases in these systems. The presence, or not, of Fe in β-Nb phase has been a source of disagreement. In ternary ZrNbFe intermetallics, identical compositions have been designated as Zr(Nb,Fe)2 or (Zr,Nb)3Fe. We show that while Zr(Nb,Fe)2 is commonly reported, it is not always justified. The cubic phase (Zr,Nb)2Fe is easily identified, but its composition is more variable after low temperature heat treatments. We demonstrate the need for correlative approaches in the assessment of phase composition, crystallography and local Fe environment under different heat treatment regimes. Irradiation effects allow us to draw clues regarding phase designation, but there is diverse behaviour under irradiation due to initial phase composition, irradiation dose rate and temperature.
U2 - 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2018.03.030
DO - 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2018.03.030
M3 - Article
SN - 0022-3115
JO - Journal of Nuclear Materials
JF - Journal of Nuclear Materials
ER -