Deformation–Induced Mechanical Synthesis of U and Fe

Abstract

The phase composition of metallic α-U and Fe after mechanical synthesis in conditions of severe (mega) plastic deformation at room temperature using rotational Bridgman anvils was studied using Mössbauer spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It was shown that mechanical synthesis results in U6Fe and UFe2 intermetallic formation with a precursor represented by UFe2(D) and UFe3(D) defective phases and a defective dispersed mechanical mixture of iron and uranium. Low-level annealing at 300 °C results in the ordering of the defective phases and transition of a dispersed mechanical mixture of iron and uranium into U6Fe and UFe2 intermetallics. The diffusion mechanism of intermetallic formation in conditions of cold deformation of iron and uranium mixture was established, and the high deformation and thermal phase stability of intermetallics U6Fe and UFe2 was shown.