Microstructural and mechanical property evolution of a nuclear zirconium-4 alloy fabricated via laser powder bed fusion and annealing heat treatment

Song, Changhui1; Zou, Zhuang1; Yan, Zhongwei1; Yao, Xiyu2; Liu, Feng3; Yang, Yongqiang1; Yan, Ming2; Han, Changjun1

2023-12-31

10.1080/17452759.2023.2189597

VIRTUAL AND PHYSICAL PROTOTYPING   Impact Factor & Quartile

1745-2759

1745-2767

Zirconium (Zr) alloys are widely used in nuclear energy because of their excellent mechanical properties and low thermal neutron absorption cross-section. This work investigated the printability, microstructure, and mechanical properties of Zr-4 alloy additively manufactured by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) for the first time. The effect of annealing temperature on the microstructural and the mechanical property evolution of the printed Zr-4 alloy was studied. The results exhibited that the Zr-4 alloy with a high relative density of 99.77% was obtained using optimised printing parameters. With an increase in the annealing temperature, the formed alpha phase of the Zr-4 alloy changed from an acicular shape to a coarse-twisted shape, and finally to an equiaxed shape. Such microstructure change endowed the alloy with a high compressive strength of 2130 MPa and compressive strain of 36%. When the annealing temperature exceeded 700 degrees C, Zr (x) (Fe2Cr) compounds were precipitated, strengthening the alloy by pinning effect. These findings provide valuable guidance for the manufacture of geometrically complex Zr alloy parts for nuclear power applications.

Zirconium alloy Zr-4 additive manufacturing laser powder bed fusion annealing

SCI

English

Corresponding

Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation[2020B1515120013] ; Guangdong Province Science and Technology Project[2020B090924002] ; National Natural Science Foundation of China[U2001218] ; Special Support Foundation of Guangdong Province[2019TQ05Z110] ; Capital Health Development Scientific Research Project[A5210020] ; Shenzhen Science and Technology Plan Project[JSGG20210802153809029] ; Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou[202201010362]

Engineering ; Materials Science

Engineering, Manufacturing ; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

WOS:000951043400001

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Web of Science

1.South China Univ Technol, Sch Mech & Automot Engn, Guangzhou 510641, Peoples R China
2.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Mat Sci & Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China
3.China Nucl Power Technol Res Inst Co Ltd, Inst Reactor Waste & Radiochem Res, Shenzhen, Peoples R China

Song, Changhui,Zou, Zhuang,Yan, Zhongwei,et al. Microstructural and mechanical property evolution of a nuclear zirconium-4 alloy fabricated via laser powder bed fusion and annealing heat treatment[J]. VIRTUAL AND PHYSICAL PROTOTYPING,2023,18(1).

Song, Changhui.,Zou, Zhuang.,Yan, Zhongwei.,Yao, Xiyu.,Liu, Feng.,...&Han, Changjun.(2023).Microstructural and mechanical property evolution of a nuclear zirconium-4 alloy fabricated via laser powder bed fusion and annealing heat treatment.VIRTUAL AND PHYSICAL PROTOTYPING,18(1).

Song, Changhui,et al."Microstructural and mechanical property evolution of a nuclear zirconium-4 alloy fabricated via laser powder bed fusion and annealing heat treatment".VIRTUAL AND PHYSICAL PROTOTYPING 18.1(2023).