Mechanical properties and microstructural evolution of ultrafine grained zircaloy-4 processed through multiaxial forging at cryogenic temperature

The mechanical properties and microstructural evolution of zircaloy-4 subjected to cumulative strains of 1.48,2.96,4.44 and 5.91 through multiaxial forging（MAF） at cryogenic temperature（77 K） were investigated.The mechanical properties of the MAF treated alloy were measured through universal tensile testing and Vickers hardness testing equipment.The zircaloy-4 deformed up to a cumulative strain of 5.91 showed improvement in both ultimate tensile strength and hardness from 474 MPa to 717 MPa and from HV 190 to HV 238,respectively,as compared with the as-received alloy.However,there was a noticeable decrement in ductility（from 18%to 3.5%） due to the low strain hardening ability of deformed zircaloy-4.The improvement in strength and hardness of the deformed alloy is attributed to the grain size effect and higher dislocation density generated during multiaxial forging.The microstructural evolutions of deformed samples were characterized by optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy（TEM）.The evolved microstructure at a cumulative strain of 5.91 obtained after MAF up to 12 cycles depicted the formation of ultrafine grains with an average size of 150-250 nm.

Role of activation energies of individual phases in two-phase range on constitutive equation of Zr-2.5Nb-0.5Cu alloy

Dominant phase during hot deformation in the two-phase region of Zr-2.5Nb-0.5Cu （ZNC） alloy was studied using activation energy calculation of individual phases. Thermo-mechanical compression tests were performed on a two-phase ZNC alloy in the temperature range of 700-925 ℃ and strain rate range of 10-2-10 s-l, Flow stress data of the single phase were extrapolated in the two-phase range to calculate flow stress data of individual phases. Activation energies of individual phases were then calculated using calculated flow stress data in the two-phase range, Comparison of activation energies revealed that a phase is the dominant phase （deformation controlling phase） in the two-phase range. Constitutive equations were also developed on the basis of the deformation temperature range （or according to phases present） using a sine-hyperbolic type constitutive equation. The statistical analysis revealed that the constitutive equation developed for a particular phase showed good agreement with the experimental results in terms of correlation coefficient （R） and average absolute relative error （AARE）.

Texture Evolution and Ultrafine Grain Formation in Cross-Cryo-Rolled Zircaloy-2

The texture and mechanical properties of cross-rolled zircaloy-2 at 77 and 300 K were investigated.Crossrolling at 77 K was performed to impart different thickness reductions of 25% and 50%,while at 300 K with 25%,50%,75% and 85% reductions to the sample.EBSD analysis of deformed sample showed that near-basal orientation is not deformed completely after 50% rolling reduction.The activation of prismatic silp,{1122} contraction twin and {1012} extension twin were evident from the deformed microstructure at 77 K.The propensity for activation of basal slip〈a〉 at77 K was also observed.The deformation of the sample at 300 K occurs by prismatic,basal 〈a〉 and pyramidal 〈c＋a〉slips,which were predicted by pole figures.After annealing,the tensile strengths（735 and 710 MPa） are almost the same for 50% cryo-cross-rolled and room-temperature cross-rolled zircaloy-2 with almost 2.7% difference in their ductility.KAM analysis of the deformed samples was made to estimate the stored strain energy and dislocation density.Annealing of deformed sample at 673 K for 30 min results in recrystallization,which leads to the formation of ultrafine grains.