β → α isothermal transformation in pure and weakly alloyed uranium

The TTT diagrams describing the β → α isothermal transformation have been made by isothermal dilatometry for pure uranium and 21 alloys based on chromium, silicon, molybdenum, iron, aluminium, zirconium. The thermal cycle preceding the isothermal step influences the decomposition kinetics at temperature corresponding to the eutectoid and martensitic mechanisms, but not in the range where the bainitic transformation occurs. The stability of the β phase decreases with the chromium, molybdenum and silicon concentration: it is affected differently for each of the three transformation mechanisms. The ternary additions, even at very low concentration have a considerable effect on the stability. When the concentration decreases the martensitic mechanism is active at progressively higher temperature, diminishing to the point of disappearance the temperature range where the transformation is considered as being of the bainitic mode. (author)