EFFECT OF ISOTHERMAL AND ISOCHRONAL AGING ON THE MICROSTRUCTURE AND PRECIPITATE EVOLUTION IN BETA-QUENCHED N36 ZIRCONIUM ALLOY
الباحث الأول:
Ali W. Aldeen
الباحثين الآخرين:
Dina Y. Mahdi
المجلة:
FACTA UNIVERSITATIS : Mechanical Engineering
تاريخ النشر:
8 يناير، 2025
مختصر البحث:
In this study, the effect of isothermal and isochronal aging is reported to investigate
the precipitate evolution and recrystallization of N36 zirconium alloy after β-quenching. Two
groups of samples were cut from the as-received sheet of N36 zirc…
In this study, the effect of isothermal and isochronal aging is reported to investigate
the precipitate evolution and recrystallization of N36 zirconium alloy after β-quenching. Two
groups of samples were cut from the as-received sheet of N36 zirconium alloy and subjected
to solution treatment and subsequent aging at 580, 640, and 700 °C for 40 and 600 min,
respectively. Optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission
electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and electron
backscattering diffraction (EBSD) were utilized to characterize the microstructure and
second-phase particle (SPPs) evolution. Results show that the implemented quenching after
solution treatment produces fine interlaced α-plates structure conserved inside prior β grain
boundaries with 12 variant directions that follow Burger misorientation characteristics. After
aging for a short time, initial α-plates conserve their shape and become softer, and SPPs
spread along their boundaries. Recrystallizations are finished for specimens aged at a higher
temperature or for a longer time. The recrystallized structure exhibits non-uniform grains and
a random SPPs distribution. Despite the differences in morphology, some recrystallization
grains retain the orientation feature from the initial α-plates. Hardness declines as
temperature and time rise, and no hardness peak is seen. Roughness and wettability rise with
increasing ageing temperatures.
