Influence of the crack-tip hydride concentration on the fracture toughness of Zircaloy-4

The influence of a hydrogen concentration gradient at the crack-tip and hydride platelet orientation on the fracture toughness, fracture mode and micromechanisms of a Zircaloy-4 commercial alloy was studied. Fracture toughness was measured on CT specimens and the analysis was performed in terms of J-integral resistance curves at temperatures ranging from 293 to 473 K. Fracture toughness results of specimens containing higher hydrides concentration near the crack-tip region, preferentially orientated in the crack plane, were compared to those obtained from specimens with a homogeneous hydrogen distribution and different platelet orientation; specimens were obtained by charging them in loaded and unloaded condition, respectively. Changes on both macroscopic and microscopic fracture behaviour were observed at temperatures ranging from 293 to 343 K, and the results show the relevance of both hydride concentration and platelet orientation. The existence of a ductile-to-brittle transition is discussed at the light of these new results.