[T14] High Temperature Materials

[15F-T14-03] Sintering of Zirconium Powders and Selected Properties of Sintered Materials at High Temperatures

*L. R. Jaworska¹, R. Wnuk¹, P. Novak², M. Stepień¹, G. Boczkal¹, P. Noga¹, T. Skrzekut¹, S. Ałecki¹ (1.AGH University of Krakow, Poland, 2.University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czech Republic)

Keywords:zirconium powder, mechanical alloying, SPS, oxidation, tensile strength

SPS was used to sinter the zirconium powder mixtures. Materials were prepared from zirconium powder and mixtures with 2.5 wt.% additives of Cu, Nb or Mn powders. The influence of sintering conditions and impurities on the phase composition of sintered materials is presented. Based on the study of the microstructures and phase compositions of oxidized materials, the degradation mechanism of sintered zirconium materials was analyzed for materials after annealing. For sintered zirconium, a similar oxidation mechanism was observed as for melted material. On the basis of TGA tests, the activation energies of the sintered materials oxidation process, in air were calculated. Zr-2.5Cu showed the lowest tendency to oxidize despite the low values of activation energy for the oxidation process in air of 61 kJ/mol. The tensile strength tests of the sintered zirconium materials were carried out at 300 °C, 500 °C and 700 °C.