Mechanical properties of Nb-1Zr weldments

The objective of this work was to measure the mechanical properties of Nb-1Zr weldments, and, more specifically, to evaluate whether Charpy V-notch impact testing may be a more meaningful indication of weld deposit ductility than the slow bend testing. Manual gas-tungsten-arc welds were made in Mb-1Zr plates using 4 beads of filler wire from the same heat. The cold-rolled plates were recrystallized by heat treatment at 1773 K for 1 hour prior to welding. Welded plates were made in a stainless steel welding glove box backfilled with either argon or helium. Two plates were made with each gas, with one plate post-weld heat treated at 1373 K. Weld metal from each of the four welded plates was subjected to chemical analysis, tensile testing at room temperature, and Charpy V-notch testing at 93-473 K. Also, microhardness testing was used to evaluate property gradients in the weldments. Impurity concentrations in the weld deposits compared well with the base metal concentrations and were within the limits of the relevant ASTM specification, B393 Type 3. All specimens with one minor exception had yield strengths, tensile strengths, and ductilities that exceeded the ASTM specified minimums. The Charpy V-notch specimens from the as-welded He weld deposit, and from both post-weld-heat-treated weld deposits showed similar behavior with upper shelf energies of 9.7-10 J and ductile-brittle transition temperatures of 85-100 K. These Charpy V-notch properties were comparable to those of the unwelded plate. The as-welded Ar weld deposit had a slightly higher ductile-brittle transition temperature near 150 K. Microhardness testing indicated that in the as-welded conditions the average hardness of the weld deposit made in Ar was higher than that made in He. Post-weld heat treatment reduced the average hardnesses of base metal and weld metal. The range of hardnesses in the weld deposits was increased by the post weld heat treatment.