Measurements of Young’s modulus and the modulus of rigidity of the solid solution of hydrogen in zirconium between 300 and 1300 K

Abstract

Young’s modulus (E) and the modulus of rigidity (G) have been measured for zirconium between 300 and 1300 K and for zirconium hydrides ZrHx (0<x<0.9) at 941 and 1001 K, using an apparatus capable of making in situ measurements under ultrahigh vacuum. Values of E and G have been obtained from resonance frequencies for bending and torsion vibrations of a polycrystalline zirconium wire. As the temperature increases, E and G of zirconium decrease in the α phase of an hcp structure and in the β phase of a bcc structure with an abrupt decrease at the α→β transition temperature 1135 K. As the hydrogen concentration increases, E and G of ZrHx decrease in the α phase and increase in the β phase.