Effect of Microstructure on High Temperature Mechanical Properties and Radiation Damage in Zr Alloy Excel

Abstract

The present paper reviews recent work on the effect of microstructure on the mechanical behavior, creep behavior and stability under irradiation of Zr alloy Excel. A series of heat treatments were performed on Excel to achieve different microstructures. High temperature tensile tests, creep-rupture tests and heavy ion irradiation experiments were performed on selected microstructures. Formation of -component loops and decomposition of βZr has been studied. Furthermore, suggestions have been made regarding the microstructural stability.