Effect of Temperature and Strain Rate on Deformation Behavior of Zirconium Alloy: Zr-2.5Nb-0.5Cu

Hot workability of Zr alloy has been investigated by means of hot compression test using Gleeble-3800. Hot compression test was performed in the temperature and strain rate range of 700 to 925oC and 0.01 -10s-1, respectively. Deformation behavior was characterized with the help of processing maps using Dynamic Material Model (DMM). From the power dissipation map peak efficiency of 48-55% was obtained at temperature of around 750oC and strain rate of 1×10-2 s-1, in (α +β) phase field. High efficiency suggests dynamic recrystallization and therefore is preferred processing condition. A domain of unstable flow was obtained at temperature range 700-730 oC and strain rate range of 8×10-2-1s-1 in which instability parameter is negative. This region should be avoided during hot working. Effect of Cu in addition to Zr-2.5Nb also studied by power dissipation and instability map in this present study.