Abstract
The morphology of U6Fe precipitates were investigated in the different allotropic states of uranium matrix. The morphology of γ-U is equiaxed and the characteristic size is ~65 μm. The excess dissolved iron in β-U precipitates discontinuously through a eutectoid reaction during cooling at the grain boundaries, while α-phase precipitates have a “needle-like” morphology (in many cases, aspect ratio ≫10) with a well-defined direction in the uranium matrix. This morphology may compensate for the large density differences of ~9 % between α-U and U6Fe (~19 and ~17.4 g/cm3, respectively) and the fact that precipitation takes place at relatively low temperatures. It was shown that U6Fe precipitates do not introduce new nucleation sites in β and α phases of uranium.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 363-367 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Metallography, Microstructure, and Analysis |
Volume | 3 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 24 Oct 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Microstructure
- Needle-like morphology
- Precipitates
- UFe
- Uranium–iron alloys
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Metals and Alloys