Effects of hydrogen content and temperature on fracture toughness of Zircaloy-4

The influence of hydrogen content and temperature on the fracture toughness of a Zircaloy-4 commercial alloy was studied in this work. Toughness was measured on CT specimens obtained from a rolled material. The analysis was performed in terms of J-integral resistance curves. The specimens were fatig...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of nuclear materials 2003-08, Vol.320 (3), p.272-279
Main Authors: Bertolino, G., Meyer, G., Perez Ipiña, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Energy
Energy. Thermal use of fuels
Exact sciences and technology
Fission nuclear power plants
Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy
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Summary:The influence of hydrogen content and temperature on the fracture toughness of a Zircaloy-4 commercial alloy was studied in this work. Toughness was measured on CT specimens obtained from a rolled material. The analysis was performed in terms of J-integral resistance curves. The specimens were fatigue pre-cracked and hydrogen charged before testing them at different temperatures in the range of 293–473 K. A negative influence of the H content on material toughness was important even at very small concentrations, being partially restored when the test temperature increased. Except for some specimens with high H concentration tested at room temperature, the macroscopic fracture behaviour was ductile. The role of Zr-hydrides and Zr(Fe,Cr) 2 precipitates in the crack growth and the dependence with hydrogen content were analysed by observation of the fracture surfaces and determination of the Zr(Fe,Cr) 2 precipitates density on them.
ISSN:0022-3115
1873-4820
DOI:10.1016/S0022-3115(03)00193-4