Creep flow and fracture behavior of the oxygen-enriched alpha phase in zirconium alloys. (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chosson, R.; Gourgues-Lorenzon, A.F.; Vandenberghe, V.; Brachet, J.C.; Crépin, J.
• Is Part Of: Scripta materialia. Volume 117(2016)
• Page Start: 20
• Page End: 23
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: Zirconium alloys -- Creep -- High temperature deformation -- Oxidation -- Embrittlement; Materials -- Periodicals; Metallurgy -- Periodicals; Metalen; Legeringen; Materiaalkunde; Metals, metalworking and machinery industries; Metals; Electronic journals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2016.02.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-6462

Abstract

Abstract: During hypothetical Loss-Of-Coolant-Accident (LOCA) scenario, zirconium alloy fuel cladding tubes are exposed to internal pressure and high temperature oxidation, so that an oxygen-stabilized α(O) phase, forms from the outer surface of the cladding, under the zirconia oxide layer. The high-temperature viscoplastic flow and fracture behavior of the α(O) phase were characterized through axial creep tests performed under vacuum, on representative model materials containing 10–30 at.% of oxygen. Creep strengthening and ductile-to-brittle transition were quantified as a function of oxygen content and test temperature, and modeled into viscoplastic flow constitutive equations and an empirical fracture criterion. Graphical abstract: