ROLE OF CARBON, NICKEL AND IRON IMPURITIES ON THE PROPERTIES OF THE U-0.2-PERCENT V-ALLOYS

After reviewing briefly the influence of the incorporation of vanadium in the uranium matrix (for contents between 0.0 and 0.5), we will exa mine the effect of major impurities, mainly carbon, nickel and iron, o n the properties of the uranium-0.2% vanadium alloys. Tensile tests at both ambient and elevated temperatures were conducted, together with some compression tests of cylinders in isothermal conditions, under pr imary vacuum. The results of these tests will be discussed in connecti on with metallurgical observations : viz, the growth of the grain boun daries and the recrystallization phenomena will be briefly examined an d compared with the mechanical results.