Abstract

A novel process comprising of aluminothermic coreduction of mixed oxides followed by arc and electron beam melt refining was developed for preparation of Nb-1Zr-0.1C alloy. The parameters of the process were optimized by considering the thermodynamic (heat) and mass balance phenomenon. The ingots of the homogenized alloy produced after electron beam melt consolidation were further extruded into tubes. The alloy was vacuum annealed at 1350–1800 °C to study the stability of Nb2C and Nb(Zr)C carbide precipitates in the microstructure. Compression creep tests conducted at 900 and 1000 °C revealed a stress exponent value of 2 and activation energy of 508 kJ/mol. NbSi2-based coatings were developed on the Nb-1Zr-0.1C alloy tubes using pack siliconizing process. The coated alloy was tested for oxidation at 1250 °C, and corrosion in liquid lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) alloy at 875 °C for prolonged duration. The silicide-coated alloy showed superior oxidation and LBE corrosion resistance at high temperatures. The alloy was found to be a promising material for coolant channels of high temperature reactors.

Issue Section:
Nuclear Fuels/Cycles and Materials
Keywords:
thermit reduction, electron beam melting, microstructure, creep, coating, oxidation, corrosion, high-temperature material
Topics:
Alloys, Creep, Errors, Cathode ray oscilloscopes, Electron beams, High temperature, Corrosion, Melting

References

1.
Banerjee
,
S.
,
2014
, “
The Indian Team on Fusion Reactor Materials, Overview of Indian Activities on Fusion Reactor Materials
,”
J. Nucl. Mater.
,
455
(
1–3
), pp.
217
–
224
.10.1016/j.jnucmat.2014.06.009
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
2.
Huang
,
Q.
,
Baluc
,
N.
,
Dai
,
Y.
,
Jitsukawa
,
S.
,
Kimura
,
A.
,
Konys
,
J.
,
Kurtz
,
R. J.
,
Lindau
,
R.
,
Muroga
,
T.
,
Odette
,
G. R.
,
Raj
,
B.
,
Stoller
,
R. E.
,
Tan
,
L.
,
Tanigawa
,
H.
,
Tavassoli
,
A.-A. F.
,
Yamamoto
,
T.
,
Wan
,
F.
, and
Wu
,
Y.
,
2013
, “
Recent Progress of R&D Activities on Reduced Activation Ferritic/Martensitic Steels
,”
J. Nucl. Mater.
,
442
(
1–3
), pp.
S2
–
S8
.10.1016/j.jnucmat.2012.12.039
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
3.
Cathcart
,
J. V.
, and
Manly
,
W. D.
,
1956
, “
The Mass Transfer Properties of Various Metals and Alloys in Liquid Lead
,”
Corrosion
,
12
(
2
), pp.
43
–
47
.10.5006/0010-9312-12.2.43
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
4.
El-Genk
,
M. S.
, and
Tournier
,
J. M.
,
2005
, “
A Review of Refractory Metal Alloys and Mechanically Alloyed-Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Steels for Space Nuclear Power Systems
,”
J. Nucl. Mater.
,
340
(
1
), pp.
93
–
112
.10.1016/j.jnucmat.2004.10.118
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
5.
Davidson
,
M. J.
,
Biberger
,
M.
, and
Mukherjee
,
A. K.
,
1992
, “
Creep of Niobium and Solid Solution Strengthened Nb-1 wt%Zr
,”
Scr. Metall. Mater.
,
27
(
12
), pp.
1829
–
1834
.10.1016/0956-716X(92)90028-D
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
6.
Grigorovich
,
V. G.
, and
Sheftel
,
E. N.
,
1982
, “
Physicochemical Fundamentals of the Development of Heat-Resistant Niobium Alloys
,”
Met. Sci. Heat Treat.
,
24
(
7
), pp.
472
–
478
.10.1007/BF00773152
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
7.
DelGrosso
,
E. J.
,
Carlson
,
C. E.
, and
Kaminsky
,
J. J.
,
1967
, “
Development of Niobium-Zirconium-Carbon Alloys
,”
J. Less Common Met.
,
12
(
3
), pp.
173
–
201
.10.1016/0022-5088(67)90114-2
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
8.
Grobstein
,
T. L.
, and
Titran
,
R. H.
,
1986
, “
Characterization of Precipitates in a Niobium-Zirconium-Carbon Alloy
,” The Metallurgical Society Fall Meeting sponsored by the American Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Orlando, FL, Oct. 5–9, Report No. NASA-TM-100848, DOE/NASA/16310-6.
9.
Titran
,
R. H.
,
1986
, “
Long-Time Creep Behavior of Nb-1Zr Alloy Containing Carbon
TMS-AIME Fall Meeting Orlando, FL, Oct. 5–9, Report No. NASA TM-100142.
10.
Leonard
,
K. J.
,
Busby
,
J. T.
, and
Zinkle
,
S. J.
,
2007
, “
Aging Effects on Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of Select Refractory Metal Alloys for Space-Reactor Applications
,”
J. Nucl. Mater.
,
366
(
3
), pp.
336
–
352
.10.1016/j.jnucmat.2007.03.025
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
11.
Sayre
,
E. D.
,
Butler
,
R. E.
, and
Kangilaski
,
M.
,
1992
, “
PWC-11 Fuel Pin Development for SP-100
,”
Proceedings of the Ninth Symposium on Space Nuclear Power Systems
, AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol.
246
, Albuquerque, NM, Jan. 12–16, pp.
145
–
149
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
12.
Chase
,
M. W.
, Jr. ,
Davies
,
C. A.
,
Downey
,
J. R.
, Jr. ,
Frurip
,
D. H.
,
MacDonald
,
R. A.
, and
Syverud
,
A. N.
,
1985
,
JANAF Thermochemical Tables
, 3rd ed., Vol.
14
, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD.
13.
Hall
,
I. H.
,
1985
,
Encyclopediea of Industrial Chemistry
, 5th ed.,
Verlag Chemie
,
Weinheim, Germany
.
14.
Dautzenberg
,
W.
,
1974
,
Aluminothermics: Ulmans Encyclopadie Der Technischem Chemie
, 4th ed.,
Chemie
,
Weinheim, Germany
.
15.
Majumdar
,
S.
,
Kishor
,
J.
,
Paul
,
B.
,
Hubli
,
R. C.
, and
Chakravartty
,
J. K.
,
2015
, “
Isothermal Oxidation Behavior and Growth Kinetics of Silicide Coatings Formed on Nb-1Zr-0.1C Alloy
,”
Corros. Sci.
,
95
, pp.
100
–
109
.10.1016/j.corsci.2015.02.035
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
16.
Farkas
,
D. M.
, and
Mukherjee
,
A. K.
,
1996
, “
Creep Behavior and Microstructural Correlation of a Particle-Strengthened Nb-1Zr-0.1C Alloy
,”
J. Mater. Res.
,
11
(
9
), pp.
2198
–
2205
.10.1557/JMR.1996.0279
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
Copyright © 2021 by ASME
You do not currently have access to this content.