Characterization of uranium--1 and 2 weight percent zirconium alloys

A preparation method for wrought uranium-1 and 2 wt percent zirconium alloys was developed. Tensile tests of the 2 wt percent zirconium alloy demonstrate that it can be solution treated, water quenched, and age hardened to obtain high strength with good ductility; hardening response of the 1 wt percent zirconium is much smaller. A metallographic study shows that the alloys on lower-level aging respond in a manner somewhat similar to the uranium--titanium alloys at comparable atomic percentage compositions. (auth)