Microstructure and mechanical properties of ZrBe alloys processed by hot rolling

Abstract In the present study, the effects of Be content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of hot rolled ZrBe binary alloys were investigated. Microstructures, i.e. the phases present in the alloys, were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). At the same processing temperature, the volume fraction of α׳ martensite and Be 2 Zr compound gradually increases but the volume fraction of α phase decreases with increasing Be content. This can be attributed to the low solubility of Be in Zr alloys and the decrease of α to β phase transition temperature. Simultaneously, the average Be 2 Zr particles size shows an increasing trend with adding Be content. With increasing Be content, the tensile strength increases but ductility decreases. The alloy with 1.0 wt% Be possessed highest ultimate tensile strength (892 MPa) with an elongation of 7.06%. The strengthening and toughening mechanisms of hot-rolled ZrBe alloys were also discussed.