Papers by Author: S.A. Loureiro

Abstract: The effect of high energy milling on powders of a FeNi (50/50) alloy and a 316L stainless steel has been evaluated by means of X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The average microstrain as function of the milling time (1/2h, 1h and 8h) was determined from XRD data. The displacement and broadening of the (XRD) peaks were used for estimate the stacking fault energy (SFE), using the method of Reed and Schramm. It was estimated SFE=79 mJ/m2 for the FeNi (50/50) alloy and SFE=14 mJ/m2 for the 316L stainless steel. The better experimental conditions for determining the SFE by XRD are discussed.

Abstract: Zircaloy is commonly applied as structural element in nuclear reactors owing to the gamma radiation transparency of Zr. One of the research interests in Zr-Nb alloys is related to its behavior in H2O-rich environments due to hydrogen embrittlement. In the present work the microstructural evolution (crystallite size and microhardness), crystallography and hydrogenation behavior (after milling) due to mechanical alloying (MA) are studied for the Zr-Nb5%at and pure Zr. The MA study of Zr and the Zr-Nb system showed that frequency of rotation in a planetary mill and alloy composition play a major role on the evolution of crystallite size and microhardness. Nb addition was found to induce a partial allotropic transformation of the Zr structure (α→ω) during MA. Indeed, for milling experiments with significant Fe contamination the formation of an fcc phase was observed. Further, MA for extended times (over 5 hours) was found to reduce the hydrogen absorption capacity of Zr and the Zr-Nb system studied.

Abstract: AB2 metallic alloys provide large quantities of Laves phases when prepared using conventional thermal routes. In the present work the crystallography, hydrogenation behavior and mechanical milling (MM) effects of the pseudo-binary Zr(NbxV1-x)2 (0

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