Precipitation of reoriented hydrides and textural change of alpha-zirconium grains during delayed hydride cracking of Zr-2.5%Nb pressure tube

Cantilever beam (CB) specimens referred to as L90 and L60 with the notch di rections tilted normal to, and at an angle of 60 degrees to, the transverse direction of a cold-worked and annealed Zr-2.5%Nb pressure tube, respectiv ely, were subjected to delayed hydride cracking (DHC) testing at 250 degree sC. L60 specimen showed slanted growth of the DHC crack compared to L90 wit hout tilting. An X-ray diffractometric study was carried out on the fractur ed surfaces of the two CB specimens after DHC testing. The delta -hydride p hase was confirmed to sit on the fracture surface, demonstrating the growth of the DHC crack through fracturing of the reoriented hydrides. Furthermor e, the texture of the reoriented hydrides was determined for the first time . Comparing the pole figures of the {111}delta -hydride and the (0001)(alph a -zirconium), it is concluded that the reoriented hydrides nucleate first of all at the oc-zirconium grains. A change in the orientation of the alpha -zirconium grains, mainly by twinning on the {10 (1) over bar2} planes, wa s demonstrated to occur during the propagation of the DHC crack. On the bas is of the above findings, a mechanism of the DHC was discussed. (C) 2001 El sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.