Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. ›› 2015, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (Suppl): 39-44.doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB2014Ac14

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Study on Strain Energy on the Hydride Growth Kinetics of U-Nb Alloys

LI Rui-Wen1, WANG Xiao-Lin2, SHI Peng1, JI He-Fei1   

  1. 1 Institute of Material, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621700, Sichuan Province, P. R. China;
    2 China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621900, Sichuan Province, P. R. China
  • Published:2015-05-20
  • Contact: LI Rui-Wen E-mail:ruiwenli@163.com
  • Supported by:

    The project was supported by the Development Fund of China Academy of Engineering Physics (2011B0301056).

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Abstract:

To investigate the difference of the hydride growth kinetics of U, U-2.5%Nb, and U-5.7%Nb (mass fraction) based on strain energy theory, the deformation, stress, and strain energy during hydride growth were investigated by the finite element model (FEM) according to the mechanical properties of the three U materials. The results showed that the strain energy because of hydride expansile growth in the matrix is considerably different for the three U materials. When hydride grows, the order of the strain energy value is U-5.7%Nb > U > U-2.5%Nb. This indicates that based on reaction activation energy theory the U-2.5%Nb alloy is the most susceptible to hydrogen corrosion, followed by U, while U-5.7%Nb is the most resistant to hydrogen corrosion. The calculated results of the strain energy agree with the hydride growth kinetics experimental results, which also show that the hydride growth model is correct. This study shows that the large strain energy because volume change during hydride growth plays an important role in the growth kinetics.

Key words: U-Nb alloy, Hydride, Strain energy, Growth model

MSC2000: 

  • O643