Microstructure of Bi-containing zirconium alloys

• Published in: Rare metals 2022-10, Vol.41 (10), p.3566-3573
• Main Authors: Zhao, Han-Pei, Yao, Mei-Yi, Huang, Jiao, Zhang, Jin-Long, Peng, Jian-Chao, Zhou, Bang-Xin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomaterials; Bismuth; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chromium; Electron diffraction; Energy; Iron; Materials Engineering; Materials Science; Metallic Materials; Microstructure; Nanoscale Science and Technology; Niobium; Physical Chemistry; Solid solutions; Tin; Zirconium base alloys
• ISSN: 1001-0521; 1867-7185
• DOI: 10.1007/s12598-015-0677-0

The effect of Bi addition (0.05 wt%–0.50 wt%) on the microstructure of zirconium alloys, including T5 (Zr–0.7Sn–1.0Nb–0.3Fe–0.1Cr), S5 (Zr–0.8Sn–0.35Nb–0.4Fe–0.1Cr), Zr–4(Zr–1.5Sn–0.2Fe–0.1Cr) and Zr–1Nb, was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Results show that with the increase in Bi content, h-Zr(Fe,Cr,Nb) 2 , o-Zr(Fe,Sn,Bi) 2 and Zr–Fe–Cr–Nb–Sn–Bi second-phase particles (SPPs) precipitate successively in the T5 +  x Bi and S5 +  x Bi alloys; in the Zr–4 +  x Bi alloys, h-Zr(Fe,Cr) 2 , o-Zr(Fe,Sn,Bi) 2 , Zr–Fe–Cr–Sn–Bi and Zr–Fe–Cr–Bi SPPs are detected successively. While as for Zr–1Nb +  x Bi alloys, Bi-free SPPs appear. The addition of Bi promotes the precipitation of SPPs with Sn in the alloys. The concentration of Bi dissolved in α-Zr matrix increases with the decrease in Sn content in the alloys. Adding reasonable Bi has little influence on the solid solution content of Nb in α-Zr matrix.