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Microstructure and texture analysis of δ‐hydride precipitation in Zircaloy‐4 materials by electron microscopy and neutron diffraction
Author(s) -
Wang Zhiyang,
Garbe Ulf,
Li Huijun,
Wang Yanbo,
Studer Andrew J.,
Sun Guangai,
Harrison Robert P.,
Liao Xiaozhou,
Vicente Alvarez M. A.,
Santisteban J. R.,
Kong Charlie
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of applied crystallography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.429
H-Index - 162
ISSN - 1600-5767
DOI - 10.1107/s1600576713031956
Subject(s) - zirconium alloy , neutron diffraction , materials science , precipitation , texture (cosmology) , microstructure , hydride , transmission electron microscopy , zirconium , crystallography , zirconium hydride , electron diffraction , diffraction , metallurgy , chemistry , crystal structure , optics , physics , nanotechnology , image (mathematics) , artificial intelligence , meteorology , computer science , metal
This work presents a detailed microstructure and texture study of various hydrided Zircaloy‐4 materials by neutron diffraction and microscopy. The results show that the precipitated δ‐ZrH 1.66 generally follows the δ(111)//α(0001) and δ[]//α[] orientation relationship with the α‐Zr matrix. The δ‐hydride displays a weak texture that is determined by the texture of the α‐Zr matrix, and this dependence essentially originates from the observed orientation correlation between α‐Zr and δ‐hydride. Neutron diffraction line profile analysis and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy observations reveal a significant number of dislocations present in the δ‐hydride, with an estimated average density one order of magnitude higher than that in the α‐Zr matrix, which contributes to the accommodation of the substantial misfit strains associated with hydride precipitation in the α‐Zr matrix. The present observations provide an insight into the behaviour of δ‐hydride precipitation in zirconium alloys and may help with understanding the induced embrittling effect of hydrides.