Slip deformation mechanism of α-Zr at 700 °C
(College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)
Abstract: Mechanical properties, corrosion behavior and hydrogen absorption of zirconium alloys are related to the texture resulting from prior forming processes. In order to investigate the high temperature deformation behavior of α-Zr, compression tests at 700 °C, microstructure measurements via EBSD, and visco-plastic self-consistent modeling were performed. Twinning activity was negligible at strain rates ≤1 s-1. The strain rate sensitivity m=0.17 seemed to be the same for all slip modes. Material parameters were fitted to reproduce the mechanical anisotropy and deformed texture, and were validated by comparing the simulated and measured strain anisotropy. The best-fit simulation showed that at high temperatures prismatic slip was the easiest deformation mode and pyramidal ác+a？ was the hardest, but basal slip and pyramidal áa？ slip operated easily and in large amount.
Key words: deformation mechanism; Zr alloy; EBSD; crystal plasticity; plastic deformation