Metallographic preparation techniques for U–6 wt.%Nb

A new metallographic preparation technique has been developed for uranium–niobium (U–Nb) alloys. The technique uses a single methodology to optimally elucidate microstructural features without preparation artifacts and permits inclusion retention and identification. Specific examples of the applicability of this metallographic preparation technique are provided for U–6 wt.%Nb. This technique has been successfully applied to numerous specimens with various thermomechanical histories to clearly resolve solidification, metastable martensite, and equilibrium structures. These results demonstrate that prior knowledge of a sample’s thermal history is not required for an effective metallographic evaluation and highlight the versatility of this technique. The beneficial features to reduce environmental impact are also discussed.

► A new metallographic preparation technique is described for U–Nb alloys.
► New technique is simpler, more universally applicable and has environmental and safety advantages over previous methods.
► Microstructural evolution of U–6 wt.%Nb as a function of processing and mechanical deformation is described.