| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2025 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Elucidating Microstructural Evolution Under Extreme Environments
|
| Presentation Title |
Nb Precipitation in Zr Alloys Under Irradiation |
| Author(s) |
Maeva Cottura, Franck Polewczyk, Ahmed Dimokrati, Benoît Appolaire, Emmanuel Clouet |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Maeva Cottura |
| Abstract Scope |
Nobium-containing zirconium alloys are currently used in nuclear power plants. Under irradiation, niobium precipitates presenting a platelet shape lying in the basal planes appear in the Zr matrix. Precipitates are very effective in strengthening metallic alloys because they act as obstacles to dislocation motion. A key factor that controls the alloy mechanical properties is the precipitate morphology.
In the present work, a multi-scale approach combining atomistic and mesoscopic simulations has been carried out to understand microstructure evolution in ZrNb alloys. We have employed ab initio calculations to obtain a model of solubility limits and to investigate interfacial properties in the Zr-Nb system. At a different scale, the phase field approach has been employed to understand the role of elasticity during the formation of the precipitates. The energetic data will be sufficient to predict the precipitate equilibrium morphology and compare it to experimental observations. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Phase Transformations, Modeling and Simulation, High-Temperature Materials |