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At least 469 records · Page 26

Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) Analysis and U-Pb Geochronology of the Oldest Lunar Zircon: Constraining Early Lunar Differentiation and Dating Impact-Related Deformation

The evolution of the early moon was dominated by two processes (i) crystallization of the Lunar Magma Ocean (LMO) and differentiation of potassium-rare earth element-phosphorous-rich residual magma reservoir referred to as KREEP, and (ii) an intense meteorite bombardment referred to as lunar cataclysm . The exact timing of these processes is disputed, and resolution relies on collection and interpretation of precise age data. This study examines the microstructure and geochronology of zircon from lunar impact breccias collected during the Apollo 17 mission. A large zircon clast within lunar breccia 72215,195 shows sector zoning in optical microscopy, cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging and Raman mapping, and indicates that it was a relict fragment of a much larger magmatic grain. Sensitive high resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U-Pb analysis of the zircon shows that U and Th concentration correlate with sector zoning, with darkest CL domains corresponding with high-U and Th (approx.150 and approx.100 ppm respectively), and the brightest-CL sectors containing approx.30-50 ppm U and approx.10-20 ppm Th. This indicates that variations in optical CL and Raman properties correspond to differential accumulation of alpha-radiation damage in each sector. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) mapping shows that the quality of electron backscatter patterns (band contrast) varies with sector zoning, with the poorest quality patterns obtained from high-U and Th, dark-CL zones. EBSD mapping also reveals a deformation microstructure that is cryptic in optical, CL and Raman imaging. Two orthogonal sets of straight discrete and gradational low-angle boundaries accommodate approx.12 misorientation across the grain. The deformation bands are parallel to the crystallographic {a}-planes of the zircon, have misorientation axes parallel to the c-axis, and are geometrically consistent with formation by dislocation creep associated with <100>{010} slip. The deformation bands are unlike curved morphology of crystal-plastic microstructures in tectonically deformed terrestrial zircon, and geometrically similar to dislocation microstructures reported in experimentally shocked zircon. We interpret these crystal-plastic deformation microstructures to have resulted from a significant impact, either directly from impact shock, or during ductile flow directly following the impact. The deformation bands appear to continue undeflected through the non-indexed, radiation-damaged areas of the grain, which suggests that the orientation variation predates any significant mechanical weakening from radiation damage in the grain, and therefore occurred early in its history.

Timms, Nick↗

Energy Budget of Brittle Fracturing in Granite Under Stress Relaxation and Creep

Creep and relaxation are the two major time-dependent fracturing processes in rocks. While a considerable amount of research has been done in understanding these two mechanisms, critical gaps remain regarding how different energy components evolve during time-dependent fracturing processes in rocks. In this study, a series of relaxation and creep experiments were conducted on prismatic Barre granite specimens in the laboratory to estimate the energy budget of brittle fracturing in granite. For the input energy, the work done by the machine (W) is calculated and for the output energy the radiated seismic energy (E R ), released in the form of acoustic emissions (AEs), is calculated as the only measurable output energy component in the conducted experiments. The low-frequency plateau (Ω 0 ) and corner frequency (f 0 ) for each AE waveform was estimated by fitting the observed AE spectra with the theoretical spectra using the Omega model. These parameters were used to estimate the seismic moments (M 0 ) based on the radiation pattern for the double couple (shear) and non-double-couple (non-shear) events. The range of f 0 and M 0 varied from 150 to 750 kHz and 10 –4 to 10 –1 N m, respectively. Moment magnitude (M w ) varied in a wider range from –9 to –6 in creep and –8.5 to –7 in relaxation. Stress drops (Δ σ ) and source radius (r) were estimated for the AEs using Brune’s model. Here, the results report on three primary observations: (1) the effects of different source mechanisms on the estimated source parameters showed that M 0 and Δ σ were higher for DC events as compared to NDC in both relaxation and creep. (2) The radiation efficiency in the case of creep is 70% higher as compared to relaxation and, (3) the stress drop estimated in relaxation and creep demonstrated a breakdown in scaling with the seismic moment.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Depinning, melting, and sliding of generalized Wigner crystals in Moiré systems

We numerically examine the depinning, sliding, and melting of commensurate and incommensurate Wigner crystals on two-dimensional hexagonal periodic substrates near fillings of 1 / 3 , 1 / 2 , and 2 / 3 to model the dynamics of generalized Wigner crystals in moiré heterostructures. At low temperatures where thermal fluctuations are irrelevant, for commensurate fillings we find a strongly pinned state that depins into a sliding crystal, while at incommensurate fillings the depinning threshold is strongly reduced. For fillings below 1 / 2 , the depinning occurs in a two-step process. Above the first depinning threshold, there is an extended range of drives where the conduction occurs via the sliding of antikinks along the charge stripes, followed by a second threshold where all the charges begin to slide. At finite temperatures, the external driving reduces the effective melting temperature at commensurate fillings and enhances creep at incommensurate fillings. We show that depinning into different sliding states, such as moving fluids or moving crystals, produces nonlinear features in the transport curves. We also show that transport is asymmetric on either side of a commensurate filling due to the different dynamics for interstitials versus holes in the commensurate structure. A variety of sliding states should be accessible for generalized Wigner crystals at finite temperatures even for low drives. If experiments can realize sliding dynamics in moiré systems, it would open another class of commensurate and incommensurate phases for study. Additionally, the sliding dynamics and antikink flow could provide unique functionalities for charge transport in moiré heterostructures. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Estimation of high temperature low cycle fatigue on the basis of inelastic strain and strainrate

Fatigue life at elevated temperature can be predicted by introducing parametric values obtained from monotonic constitutive behavior into the Universal-Slopes Equation. For directionally solidified MAR-M200+HF at 975 C, these parameters are the maximum stress achievable under entirely plastic (time-independent) and purely creep (time-dependent) conditions and the corresponding inelastic strains, as well as the elastic modulus. For materials which exhibit plasticity/creep interaction, two more pairs of monotonic parameters must be evaluated for fatigue life prediction. This life-prediction method based on the Universal-Slopes Equation, resulted from a constitutive model characterizing monotonic and cyclic data as inelastic strainrate as a function of inelastic strain. Characterizing monotonic data is this way, permitted distinction between different material responses such as strain-hardening, strain-softening, and dynamic recovery effects. Understanding and defining the region of influence of each of these effects facilitated formulation of the constitutive model in relation to the mechanical and microstructural processes occurring in the material under cyclic loading.

Berkovits, A.↗

Measure Effects of Molten Halide Salt on Creep Rupture Lifetime for 316H, 709 and 617

Ongoing commercialization of different molten salt reactor concepts can considerably benefit from quantitative information on the impact of molten halide salts on the engineering properties such as creep and fatigue strength of materials of interest. Limited legacy data from the molten salt reactor experiment (MSRE) program showed a significant reduction in creep rupture strength of a Ni-base alloy in molten fluoride salt. This task evaluated the creep behavior of candidate structural materials 316H, 709 and 617 for advanced nuclear reactors under molten halide salt environments at 650, 700 and 750°C respectively. Creep tests were conducted in air, Ar, fluoride (FLiNaK) and chloride (NaCl-MgCl 2 ) salts. The molten salt environment caused a 50% reduction in creep rupture lifetime for 316H in FLiNaK and an 80% reduction in creep rupture lifetime in NaCl-MgCl 2 compared to air exposures. The molten fluoride salt environment resulted in almost a 90% and 50% reduction in creep rupture time for 709 and 617 irrespective of the cover gas environment (air and Ar). Significant differences in the compositional changes between the salt- and air-facing surfaces were observed in the alloy subsurface which might have potentially lead to formation of phases detrimental to the creep behavior.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Mechanical Properties and Deformation Behavior of Additively Manufactured 316L Stainless Steel (FY2020)

The Transformational Challenge Reactor (TCR) program plans to build most of the TCR core components through additive manufacturing (AM) processes. These processes include laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) for the metallic (316L) components and the newly developed combined process of binderjet printing and chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) for the SiC fuel matrix. Mechanical testing and characterization tasks have been carried out since the beginning of the TCR program to (1) build a property database for the AM materials that will be used in TCR core and (2) to assess the materials’ performance in TCR-relevant conditions. This document reports the outcome of the testing and characterization efforts for the fiscal year with a focus on the mechanical performance data of AM 316L stainless steel (SS). Baseline tensile testing over a wide temperature range of room temperature–600 °C was completed for the AM 316L alloy in as-built, stress-relieved, and solution-annealed conditions. The as-built 316L showed the highest strength, and the alloy after the post-build treatments showed reduced strengths in the low-strain range. However, the strength differences among the AM materials became insignificant in the later part of deformation. Furthermore, regardless of post-build processing, the AM 316L SS showed higher strength and comparable ductility when compared with wrought 316L SS. Thermal creep testing and microstructural evolution during creep deformation were also performed under selected conditions. It was found that the AM 316L steel showed the best creep resistance in the stress-relieved condition. In-situ tensile tests were performed using scanning electron microscopy and 1-ID beamline at the Advanced Photon Source to elucidate the deformation and fracture behavior of AM 316L and the evolution of crystalline stress, dislocations, and pore distribution. Using these in-situ testing data, an in-depth analysis of the roles of microstructural features in deformation and fracture processes is presented herein. The final section of the document introduces ongoing and future activities for materials testing and characterization, including irradiation effect studies and ball punch testing on AM 316L and AM IN718 alloys.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Development and Processing of Nickel Aluminide-Carbide Alloys

With the upper temperature limit of the Ni-based superalloys attained, a new class of materials is required. Intermetallics appear as likely candidates because of their attractive physical properties. With a relatively low density, high thermal conductivity, excellent oxidation resistance, high melting point, and simple crystal structure, nickel aluminide (NiAl) appears to be a potential candidate. However, NiAl is limited in structural applications due to its low room temperature fracture toughness and poor elevated temperature strength. One approach to improving these properties has been through the application of eutectic composites. Researchers have shown that containerless directional solidification of NiAl-based eutectic alloys can provide improvement in both the creep strength and fracture toughness. Although these systems have shown improvements in the mechanical properties, the presence of refractory metals increases the density significantly in some alloys. Lower density systems, such as the carbides, nitrides, and borides, may provide NiAl-based eutectic structure. With little or no information available on these systems, experimental investigation is required. The objective of this research was to locate and develop NiAl-carbide eutectic alloys. Exploratory arc-melts were performed in NiAl-refractory metal-C systems. Refractory metal systems investigated included Co, Cr, Fe, Hf, Mo, Nb, Ta, Ti, W, and Zr. Systems containing carbides with excellent stability (i.e.,HfC, NbC, TaC, TiC, and ZrC) produced large blocky cubic carbides in an NiAl matrix. The carbides appeared to have formed in the liquid state and were randomly distributed throughout the polycrystalline NiAl. The Co, Cr, Fe, Mo, and W systems contained NiAl dendrites with a two-phase interdendritic microconstituent present. Of these systems, the NiAl-Mo-C system had the most promising microstructure for in-situ composites. Three processing techniques were used to evaluate the NiAl-Mo-C system: arc-melting, slow cooling, and containerless directional solidification. Arc-melting provided a wide range of compositions in an economical and simple fashion. The slow cooled ingots provided larger ingots and slower cooling rates than arc-melting. Directional solidification was used to produce in-situ composites consisting of NiAl reinforced with molybdenum carbides.

Newport, Timothy Scott↗

Heat Treatment Devices and Method of Operation Thereof to Produce Dual Microstructure Superalloys Disks

A heat treatment assembly and heat treatment methods are disclosed for producing different microstructures in the bore and rim portions of nickel-based superalloy disks, particu- larly suited for gas turbine applications. The heat treatment assembly is capable of being removed from the furnace and disassembled to allow rapid fan or oil quenching of the disk. For solutioning heat treatments of the disk, temperatures higher than that of this solvus temperature of the disk are used to produce coarse grains in the rim of each disk so as to give maximum creep and dwell crack resistance at the rim service temperature. At the same time, solution temperature lower than the solvus temperature of the disk are provided to produce fine grain in the bore of the disk so as to give maximum strength and low cycle fatigue resistance.

John Gayda↗

Life prediction modeling based on strainrange partitioning

Strainrange partitioning (SRP) is an integrated low-cycle-fatigue life predicting system. It was created specifically for calculating cyclic crack initiation life under severe high-temperature fatigue conditions. The key feature of the SRP system is its recognition of the interacting mechanisms of cyclic inelastic deformation that govern cyclic life at high temperatures. The SRP system bridges the gap between the mechanistic level of understanding that breeds new and better materials and the phenomenological level wherein workable engineering life prediction methods are in great demand. The system was recently expanded to address engineering fatigue problems in the low-strain, long-life, nominally elastic regime. This breakthrough, along with other advances in material behavior and testing technology, has permitted the system to also encompass low-strain thermomechanical loading conditions. Other important refinements of the originally proposed method include procedures for dealing with life-reducing effects of multiaxial loading, ratcheting, mean stresses, nonrepetitive (cumulative loading) loading, and environmental and long-time exposure. Procedure were also developed for partitioning creep and plastic strain and for estimating strainrange versus life relations from tensile and creep rupture properties. Each of the important engineering features of the SRP system are discussed and examples shown of how they help toward predicting high-temperature fatigue life under practical, although complex, loading conditions.

Halford, Gary R.↗

Potential for NiAl based alloys for high temperature applications

The B2 nickel aluminide, NiAl, is of potential use for high temperature structural applications because of its high melting point, low density, and oxidation resistance. An overview of recent attempts to improve the low temperature ductility as well as the high temperature strength of this alloy is presented. Room temperature tensile ductility of 2.5 percent can be obtained in a stoichiometric binary alloy by careful control of the composition and processing conditions. Alloying additions to improve high temperature creep resistance are most effective when fine distributions of ternary intermetallic phases can be obtained. A promising direction for exploiting the advantages of this alloy may be as a matrix for composite materials.

Vedula, K.↗

Elevated temperature creep properties of NiAl cryomilled with and without Y2O3

The creep properties of lots of NiAl cryomilled with and without Y2O3 have been determined in compression and tension. Although identical cryomilling procedures were used, differences in composition were found between the lot ground with 0.5 vol% yttria and the lot ground without Y2O3. Compression testing between 1000 and 1300 K yielded similar creep strengths for both materials, while tensile creep rupture testing indicated that the yttria-containing alloy was slightly stronger than the Y2O3-free version. Both compression and tensile testing showed two deformation regimes; whereas the stress state did not affect the high stress exponent (n approximately equals 10) mechanism, the low stress exponent regime n was approximately 6 in tension and approximately 2 in compression. The strengths in tension were somewhat less than those measured in compression, but the estimated activation energies (Q) of approximately 600 kJ/mol for tensile testing were closer to the previously measured values (approximately 700 kJ/mol) for NiAl-AlN and very different from the Q's of 400 and 200 kJ/mol for compression tests in the high and low stress exponent regimes, respectively. A Larson-Miller comparison indicated that cryomilling can produce an alloy with long-term, high-temperature strength at least equal to conventional superalloys.

Whittenberger, J. Daniel↗

Factors Influencing Dwell Fatigue Cracking in Notches of Powder Metallurgy Superalloys

The influences of heat treatment and cyclic dwells on the notch fatigue resistance of powder metallurgy disk superalloys were investigated for low solvus high refractory (LSHR) and ME3 disk alloys. Disks were processed to produce material conditions with varied microstructures and associated mechanical properties. Notched specimens were first subjected to baseline dwell fatigue cycles having a dwell at maximum load, as well as tensile, stress relaxation, creep rupture, and dwell fatigue crack growth tests at 704 C. Several material heat treatments displayed a bimodal distribution of fatigue life with the lives varying by two orders-of-magnitude, while others had more consistent fatigue lives. This response was compared to other mechanical properties, in search of correlations. The wide scatter in baseline dwell fatigue life was observed only for material conditions resistant to stress relaxation. For selected materials and conditions, additional tests were then performed with the dwells shifted in part or in total to minimum tensile load. The tests performed with dwells at minimum load exhibited lower fatigue lives than max dwell tests, and also exhibited early crack initiation and a substantial increase in the number of initiation sites. These results could be explained in part by modeling evolution of peak stresses in the notch with continued dwell fatigue cycling. Fatigue-environment interactions were determined to limit life for the fatigue cycles with dwells.

Gabb, T. P.↗

Development of low-thermal expansion mullite bodies

A series of ceramic compositions based on variations in the crystal-glass ratio of a mullite body were developed. The thermal expansion of these compositions varies from 3.7 to 5.0 x 10 to the -6th/deg C to 800 C. The materials are particularly useful for applications involving silicon, in that an identical thermal expansion is available. The high-temperature creep data for the lower-expansion compositions are inferior as a result of their higher glass contents. Raw material sources and fabrication procedures for specific compositions are given.

Leipold, M. H.↗

A thermochemical database from high-throughput first-principles calculations and its application to analyzing phase evolution in AM-fabricated IN718

A comprehensive thermochemical database is constructed based on high–throughput first-principles phonon calculations of over 3000 atomic structures in limited concentrations in Ni, Fe, and Co alloys involving a total of 26 elements including Al, B, C, Cr, Cu, Hf, La, Mn, Mo, N, Nb, O, P, Re, Ru, S, Si, Ta, Ti, V, W, Y, and Zr, providing thermochemical data largely unavailable from existing experiments. Here, the database can be employed to predict the equilibrium phase compositions and fractions directly from first-principles by minimizing the chemical potential of a multicomponent system with a fixed overall chemical composition and a fixed temperature. It is applied to the additively manufactured nickel-based IN718 superalloy to analyze the phase evolution with temperature. IN718 is known for its great performance in tensile, fatigue, creep, and rupture strength, combined with easy fabrication and corrosion resistance. In particular, we successfully predicted the formation of L1 0 -FeNi, γ’-Ni 3 (Fe,Al), α-Cr, δ-Ni 3 (Nb,Mo), γ”-Ni 3 Nb, and η-Ni 3 Ti at low temperatures (below 680 K), γ’-Ni 3 Al, δ-Ni 3 Nb, γ”-Ni 3 Nb, α-Cr, and γ-Ni(Fe,Cr,Mo) at intermediate temperatures (between 680 and 1140 K), and δ-Ni 3 Nb and γ-Ni(Fe,Cr,Mo) at high temperatures (above 1140 K) in IN718. These predictions are validated by EDS mapping of compositional distributions and corresponding identifications of phase distributions. The database is expected to be a valuable source for future thermodynamic analysis and microstructure prediction of alloys involving the 26 elements.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Microphysical Modeling of Fault Slip and Stability Transition in Hydrothermal Conditions

Abstract Field and laboratory observations indicate that the frictional behaviors of faults depend on hydrothermal conditions. We extend the microphysical Chen‐Niemeijer‐Spiers (CNS) model to hydrothermal conditions by using the observed temperature variation of indentation hardness to infer the temperature dependence of a microphysical parameter . This parameter is assumed constant in previous versions of the CNS model. A simple spring‐slider system is used to simulate the fault system and investigate the steady‐state frictional behaviors of wet granite gouges. Our numerical results quantitatively reproduce experimental data showing the frictional‐plastic transition. The results also describe the transition from velocity‐strengthening at low temperatures (<160°C), to velocity‐weakening at intermediate temperatures (160°C–370°C), then back to velocity‐strengthening at high temperatures (>370°C). In our extended CNS model, these results suggest that the dominant shear deformation mechanism does transition from frictional granular flow to fully plastic creep with increasing temperature.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Characterization of an oxide dispersion strengthened superalloy, MA-6000E, for turbine blade applications

Alloy MA 6000E was developed by the mechanical alloying process for turbine blade applications. The nominal composition of the experimental alloy is Ni-15CR-2Mo-4W-4.5Al- 2.5Ti-2Ta- .15Zr-.05C-.01B-1.1Y2O3. The 1000 hour rupture strength in the longitudinal direction is about 145 MPa at 1093 C and about 483 MPa at 760 C. The alloy displays normal three-stage creep behavior. Typically the creep elongation is 3.5% at 760 C and 2% at 1093 C. The alloy is notch ductile (K sub 1 = 3.5). The rupture properties of the alloy are not significantly degraded by thermal cycling or prior stress isothermal exposure. The alloy also has excellent longitudinal high and low cycle fatigue resistance. Limited testing indicates that MA 6000E posesses good off-axis mechanical properties. The transverse tensile elongation at 760 C is about 3%. The 100 hour transverse rupture strength is 331 MPa at 760 C and about 55 MPa at 1093 C.

Kim, Y. G.↗

A strainrange partitioning analysis of low cycle fatigue of coated and uncoated Rene 80

A strainrange partitioning analysis was conducted on ultrahigh vacuum, strain-controlled, low-cycle fatigue behavior of uncoated and aluminide coated Rene' 80 nickel-base superalloy at 1000 C (1832 F) and 871 C (1600 F). The results indicated little effect of coating or temperature on the fatigue resistance. There was, however, a significant effect on fatigue life when creep was introduced into the strain cycles. The effect of this creep component was analyzed in terms of the method of strainrange partitioning.

Kortovich, C. S.↗

Influence of composition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a nickel-base superalloy single crystal

The effects of cobalt, tantalum, and tungsten contents on the microstructure and mechanical properties of single crystal Mar-M247 were investigated. Elevated temperature tensile and creep-rupture properties of 001 oriented single crystals were related to microstructural features of the alloys. Substitution of Ni for Co in the high refractory metal alloys increased the lattice mismatch, which was considered to be the cause of the increases in tensile and creep strength. Substitution of Ni for Ta caused large decreases in tensile strength and creep life, consistent with decreases in gamma prime volume fraction, lattice mismatch, and solid solution hardening. Substitution of W for Ta resulted in decreased life at high stresses, which was related to small decreases in mismatch and volume fraction. However, the W substitution resulted in improved life at low stresses, which was related to solid solution strengthening by W.

Nathal, M. V.↗