Nanoindentation study of bulk zirconium hydrides at elevated temperatures

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 726; no. C; pp. 41 - 48
• Main Authors: Nedim Cinbiz, M., Balooch, Mehdi, Hu, Xunxiang, Amroussia, Aida, Terrani, Kurt
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 05.12.2017; Elsevier BV; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bulk hydride; Hardness; Heat transmission; Heating; Indentation; MATERIALS SCIENCE; Mechanical properties; Modulus of elasticity; Nanoindentation; Reduced elastic modulus; Temperature; Temperature dependent elastic modulus; Zirconium; Zirconium hydrides; δ hydrides; δ hydrides; Bulk hydride; Temperature dependent elastic modulus; Reduced elastic modulus; Nanoindentation; Zirconium hydrides
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.07.319

The mechanical properties of zirconium hydrides were studied using nano-indentation technique between 25 and 400 °C. Temperature dependency of reduced elastic modulus and hardness of δ- and ε-zirconium hydrides were obtained by conducting nanoindentation experiments on bulk hydride samples with independently heating capability of indenter and heating stage. The reduced elastic modulus of δ-zirconium hydride (H/Zr ratio = 1.61) decreased from ∼113 GPa at room temperature to ∼109 GPa at 400 °C, while its hardness decreased significantly from 4.1 GPa to 2.41 GPa in the same temperature range. For ε-zirconium hydrides (H/Zr ratio = 1.79), the reduced elastic modulus decreased from 61 GPa at room temperature to 54 GPa at 300 °C, while its hardness from 3.06 GPa to 2.19 GPa. •Reduced modulus of δ-hydride decreases from 113 GPa at 25 °C to 109 GPa at 400 °C.•Hardness of δ-hydride reduces from 4.1 GPa (25 °C) to 2.4 GPa (400 °C).•Significant reduction of δ-hydride hardness is likely related to yield behavior.•Reduced modulus of ε-hydride decreases from 61 GPa at 25 °C to 54 GPa at 300 °C.•Hardness of ε-hydride reduces from 3.06 GPa (25 °C) to 2.19 GPa (300 °C).