Effect of Cold-Rolling Direction on Creep Behaviors in Zr-1.1Nb-0.05Cu Alloy

Creep behaviors of the Zr–1.1Nb–0.05Cu (HANA-6) alloy strips with different orientations were investigated. Anisotropy was observed in the samples depending on their physical orientations due to the formation of texture in their microstructures. The creep strain rate was increased as the test stress and temperature increased. The rate was higher along the rolling-direction than in the transverse-direction irrespective of annealing conditions. However, the samples with 45° direction showed different behaviors depending on the annealing temperature. When strips were finally annealed at 600°C for 10 min, the primary creep rate of the 45° strip was the highest among the various orientations although the saturated creep rate was the lowest. In the case of final annealing at 660°C for 4 h, the highest creep rate occurred throughout the creep test in the 45° strip. It is considered that the fraction of (100) planes along the direction of creep deformation affect the creep rates.