Potential of Thermomechanical Processing of Dilute Uranium Alloys

摘要

Preliminary results of studies on uranium-2.25 wt % niobium and uranium-0.75 wt % titanium suggest that thermomechanical processing of dilute uranium alloys might: (1) eliminate the need for quenching to obtain moderate yield strengths (approx. 900 MPa), (2) provide higher usable yield strengths (> 1050 MPa). Analysis of the stress-strain curve of annealed uranium-2.25% niobium indicates that deformation hardening should produce substantial increases in yield strength with very small decreases in ductility. Preliminary rolling experiments reveal that this material can be successfully warm worked over a wide range of conditions. Analysis of the stress-strain curve of solution treated uranium-0.75% titanium indicates that deformation hardening should produce better combinations of yield strength and ductility than can be obtained by age hardening. Preliminary rolliing experiments demonstrate that this alloy can be uniformly hardened at temperatures below 300 exp 0 C and that the hardening effects of deformation and aging are approximately additive. (ERA citation 06:032260)