Effects of texture, temperature and strain on the deformation modes of zirconium

Abstract

Clock-rolled, high-purity, textured polycrystalline zirconium exhibits significant plastic anisotropy for compression along the through-thickness and in-plane directions and strong temperature dependence of flow stress for both orientations. Orientation imaging microscopy in a scanning electron microscope and defect analysis via transmission electron microscopy are used to characterize the defect microstructures as a function of initial texture, deformation temperature and plastic strain. The observed deformation mechanisms are correlated with the measured mechanical response.