Development of Alternative Method for Manufacturing Structural Zirconium Elements for Nuclear Engineering
Kirill Ozhmegov1, Anna Kawalek1, Dariusz Garbiec2
1Faculty of Production Engineering and Materials Technology, Czestochowa University of Technology, 69 J.H. Dabrowskiego St., 42-201 Czestochowa, Poland.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 10, 2021
Summary
Spark plasma sintering offers a sustainable alternative for manufacturing zirconium components, reducing waste and enabling advanced processing techniques for nuclear applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nuclear Engineering
Background:
- Zirconium alloys are critical structural materials in nuclear reactors due to their performance in aggressive environments.
- Traditional manufacturing methods for zirconium components are lengthy and generate substantial metal waste.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate spark plasma sintering as an alternative manufacturing technology for zirconium.
- To evaluate the microstructural and mechanical properties of spark plasma sintered zirconium.
Main Methods:
- Spark plasma sintering (SPS) of zirconium powder.
- Microstructural analysis.
- Mechanical property testing according to ASTM B-351 standard.
- Exploration of post-sintering processing like radial shear rolling.
Main Results:
- Successfully produced zirconium samples using spark plasma sintering.
- Characterized the microstructural and mechanical properties of the sintered material.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of subsequent processing methods.
Conclusions:
- Spark plasma sintering presents a viable, waste-reducing alternative for zirconium component manufacturing.
- The developed method allows for further processing, expanding manufacturing possibilities for nuclear-grade zirconium.
Keywords:
dilatometric studiesmicrostructurepowder metallurgyrheologicalspark plasma sinteringzirconiumMore Related Videos
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