High temperature deformation behavior of Nb-1Zr and Nb-1Zr-0.1C

Nb-1Zr-0.1C alloy is a potential candidate material for use in advanced nuclear reactors. An essential step in the fabrication of components is the thermo-mechanical processing of the alloy. These are performed at high temperatures, where either dynamic recovery or dynamic recrystallization occurs. The resultant microstructure is either refined or coarsened depending upon the applied strain rates and temperatures of hot working. Here the microstructural evolution of hot deformed Nb-1Zr and Nb-1Zr-0.1C alloys are presented and optimum domains of their hot working are identified. The microstructural features of dynamic recovery and recrystallization obtained during hot deformation are correlated to the corresponding stress-strain behaviour and strain rate sensitivity. (author)