Abstract
The parameters affecting the strain-ageing of zirconium-oxygen alloys have been investigated. Strainageing was found to be limited to a temperature range between 200 and 500°C. Transmission electron microscopy has shown that strain-ageing is associated with the formation of a dense dislocation cell structure. Segregation of oxygen atoms to these cell walls is proposed as the mechanism of strain-ageing in zirconium-oxygen alloys. The low-temperature strength and strain-ageing response is attributed to the presence of interstitial oxygen pairs which have an asymmetric strain field and so can interact with both edge and screw dislocations. The effect of neutron irradiation on the strain-ageing response is consistent with some form of interstitial trapping by radiation induced defects.
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