Abstract
In contrast to conventional heat treatment processes, electropulsing not only heats an alloy, but also exerts some other positive effects during the heating process. In this paper, the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of a deformed Zr40Ti5Al4V alloy after electropulsing treatment were investigated. The results showed that when the charging voltage was 2 kV, there was a slight decrease in dislocation density due to the electron wind which softened the alloy even though the highest temperature of the specimen during the treatment was only 86 °C. Increasing the charging voltage to 6 kV not only further increased the heating temperature, but accelerated the phase transformation process of α″ → β → α. The presence of the α phase strengthened the alloy but notably deteriorated its ductility. A full and refined β phase microstructure could be obtained when the charging voltage was increased to 8 kV. This simultaneously increased the strength and ductility of the alloy.
Highlights
Since the 1950s, when the first decision to use zirconium for nuclear applications was made by Admiral Rickover of the US Navy [1], zirconium and its alloys have undergone development [2,3,4].A series of zirconium alloys with different properties have been developed to satisfy different requirements by changing the alloying elements (e.g., Sn, Nb, Mo, Fe, Al, V, etc.)
The specimens were thereafter treated by high-current-density electropulsing with charging voltages of 2 kV, 4 kV, 6 kV, and 8 kV and a pulse duration of 400 μs
A small number of dislocations that formed during the quenching process were observed within the β grains
Summary
A series of zirconium alloys with different properties have been developed to satisfy different requirements by changing the alloying elements (e.g., Sn, Nb, Mo, Fe, Al, V, etc.). These elements mainly have a solid-solution strengthening effect on the alloys [5,6,7,8]. Optimizing the heat treatment process is one effective and conventional method for regulating the properties of alloys. The mechanical properties and the microstructural evolution during room-temperature deformation and following the subsequent conventional heat treatment process have been studied [11]. The cooling method notably influences the microstructure and properties of an alloy [11,12].
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