Accurate quantitative EDS-TEM analysis of precipitates and matrix in equilibrium (α+β) Zr–1Nb alloys with Ta addition

Abstract

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Effects of thermo-mechanical process on phase transitions, hydrogen solubility and corrosion of Ta-modified Zr-1Nb alloys

“…The formation of secondary precipitate phases (SPP) from the 𝛽 𝑍𝑟 quenched condition has already been studied in these alloys by isothermal annealing at 570 °C up to 3840 h and was reported in reference [15]. The vast majority of the SPP in the three alloys were identified as a bcc crystal structure (called 𝛽 phase).…”

“…2a-c and 3a-c, respectively. As discussed in reference [15], in all three alloys, the SPP´s arrangement agrees with the well-known precipitation mechanism of Zr-Nb alloys waterquenched from 1000 °C, or more, and annealed for a long time between 500 and 600 °C [ [24], [25], [26]]. Precipitation occurs initially with a 𝛽 phase nucleated as filaments at the needle boundaries and twin interfaces produced during the martensitic transformation 𝛽 → 𝛼´, the 𝛽 nuclei having the same composition as their parent 𝛼´ martensitic phase.…”

“…The effects of Mo on the mechanical properties of Zr-Nb alloys were investigated by Yang et al [14], they were able to estimate a 13% increase in the yield stress of Zr-1.2Nb caused by 0.1 wt% Mo in solid solution. Our previous investigation on the chemical composition of the precipitates and the matrix in equilibrium (𝛼 + 𝛽) Zr-1Nb alloys with Ta addition showed a matrix with 0.17 wt% Ta in solid solution [15]. Due to the almost identical atomic radii for Mo and Ta, solid solution hardening should only depend on atomic concentration, therefore a yield stress increase of around 22% can be expected with Ta replacing Nb in the Zr-1Nb alloy.…”

“…The development of Ta-modified Zr-Nb alloys as a new nuclear cladding material has been launched with our study mentioned above [15]. That research focused on the influence of a small addition of Ta on the phase equilibrium microstructure of the Zr-1Nb alloy aged at 570 °C.…”

Structural and transport properties of highly Ru-deficient SrRu0.7O3 thin films prepared by molecular beam epitaxy: Comparison with stoichiometric SrRuO3

“…Only the Sr, Ru, and O peaks are observed, indicating that the signals are exclusively from the films and the contribution from the SrTiO3 substrates is negligible. We estimated the chemical compositions of the films using the conventional ZAF matrix correction routine built into the Bruker Esprit software, 37,38 where Z, A, and F represent atomic number, absorption, and fluorescence corrections, respectively. The results indicate that the Ru/Sr ratios in the films grown under the Ru-poor and Ru-rich conditions are 0.71 and 1.03, respectively.…”