Temperature dependence of the anisotropic deformation of Zr–2.5%Nb pressure tube material during micro-indentation

The effect of temperature on the anisotropic plastic deformation of textured Zr–2.5%Nb pressure tube material was studied using micro-indentation tests performed in the axial, radial, and transverse directions of the tube over the temperature range from 25 to 400 °C. The ratio of the indentation stress in the transverse direction relative to that in the radial and axial directions was 1.29:1 and 1.26:1 at 25 °C but decreased to 1.22:1 and 1.05:1 at 400 °C. The average activation energy of the obstacles that limit the rate of indentation creep increases, from 0.72 to 1.33 eV, with increasing temperature from 25 to 300 °C and is independent of indentation direction. At temperature between 300 °C and 400 °C the measured activation energy is considerably reduced for indentation creep in the transverse direction relative to that of either the axial or radial directions. We conclude that, over this temperature range, the strength of the obstacles that limit the time-dependent dislocation glide on the pyramidal slip system changes relative to that on the prismatic slip system. These findings provide new data on the temperature dependence of the yield stress and creep rate, particularly in the radial direction, of Zr–2.5%Nb pressure tubes and shed new light on the effect of temperature on the operation of dislocation glide on the prismatic and pyramidal slip systems which ultimately determines the degree of mechanical anisotropy in the highly textured Zr–2.5Nb pressure tube material used in CANDU nuclear reactors.

► Indentation tests are performed on ion-irradiated Zr–2.5%Nb tubing.
► The mechanical anisotropy decreases with increasing irradiation and temperature.
► The indentation stress can accurately indicate the equivalent yield stress.
► The temperature dependence of the radial flow stress of Zr–2.5%Nb is found.
► The activation energy of the deformation rate is isotropic until above 300 °C.