X-ray diffraction study of reversible deformation mechanisms in the aged uranium-6.5 niobium alloy

The x-ray diffraction (XRD) data from 2000C/2h-aged uranium-6.5 wt % niobium (U-6.5Nb) alloys, taken under stress as a function of strain, revealed a gamma-zero (γ0)→ alpha prime-prime (α'') thermoelastic martensitic phase transformation. It was concluded that the primary reversible deformation modes consisted of the movement of γ0/α'' interphase interfaces and α'' intervariant interfaces. Specimen elasticity at low strains was associated with the retreat of interphase interfaces. At higher strains, interphase interfaces did not recover significantly on unloading, and elasticity was due primarily to the retreat of α'' intervariant interfaces