Deformation behavior of Zr₃Al-Nb alloys I: room-temperature and high-temperature deformation study

Abstract

The deformation behavior of the Zr₃Al-Nb alloys was studied by measuring hardness at different temperatures, by hot rolling, and by hot pressing. Using the hardness data, elasticity and plasticity parameters were estimated and were used to determine the suitable temperature range of deformation for these alloys. Hot rolling and hot pressing were applied to determine the optimum temperatures and annealing time for carrying out deformation successfully in these alloys. Microstrural investigation of the hotdeformed samples revealed that the matrix β phase has undergone substantial deformation and the second intermetallic phase, Zr₂(Al,Nb), underwent dissolution and re-precipitation. The hardness of the fully annealed Zr₃Al-Nb alloys showed two types of temperature dependence. Transition temperatures for the change in behavior, intrinsic hardness, and softening coefficient were determined. The hardness of the fully annealed alloys rolled to different extent at various temperatures and subsequently heat treated was used to study the recovery process. The microstructural study of room-temperature deformed binary Zr₃Al alloy showed the splitting of the superlattice dislocations into partials containing superlattice intrinsic stacking faults.