Effect of welding thermal cycle on the microstructure of Zircaloy-4
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Date
2009-07-16
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International Institute of Welding
Abstract
Zirconium and its alloys are important materials commonly utilised in the nuclear industry, primarily due to their low neutron absorption cross-section and excellent corrosion resistant properties. Zircaloy-4 is one of the most widely used nuclear grade zirconium alloys and contains primary alloying elements of tin, iron, chromium and oxygen. Typical applications include structural core components and fuel cladding. Fully welded structures such as heavy water reflector vessels have been fabricated from Zircaloy-4. Although the structure-property relationships of Zircaloy-4 parent metal and weld metal is well understood, there is limited understanding of the same relationship for the narrow weld heat-affected zone. The work reported in this paper is an investigation of the influence of the weld thermal cycles on the microstructure and texture of Zircaloy-4 heat-affected zone material. Discrete regions within the heat-affected zone were simulated using a thermo-mechanical simulator (Gleeble 3500). Peak temperatures of the thermal cycles studied were 1000,1200, 1400 and 1600°C. Weld simulation has been shown to produce a volume of material sufficient for analysis and which represents the individual sub-zones. © 2010, International Institute of Welding
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Keywords
Zircaloy 4, Welding, Corrosion resistance, Absorption, Thermal cycling, Simulation
Citation
Thorogood, K. J., Li, H., Carr, D. G., Harrison, R. P., & Nolan, D. (2009). Effect of welding thermal cycle on the microstructure of Zircaloy-4. Poster presented to the 62nd Annual Assembly of the International Institute of Welding (IIW) (PE-24), 12th - 17th July 2009. Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel: Singapore. In Welding in the World - Special Issue, 53, 613-618.