US3145098A - Beryllium alloys - Google Patents
Beryllium alloys Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3145098A US3145098A US280633A US28063362A US3145098A US 3145098 A US3145098 A US 3145098A US 280633 A US280633 A US 280633A US 28063362 A US28063362 A US 28063362A US 3145098 A US3145098 A US 3145098A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- beryllium
- calcium
- weight
- alloy
- alloys
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 229910000952 Be alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 title 1
- 229910052790 beryllium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 16
- ATBAMAFKBVZNFJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N beryllium atom Chemical compound [Be] ATBAMAFKBVZNFJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 16
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 claims description 14
- OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Calcium Chemical compound [Ca] OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 12
- 229910052791 calcium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000011575 calcium Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Titanium Chemical compound [Ti] RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 7
- 229910052758 niobium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000010955 niobium Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- GUCVJGMIXFAOAE-UHFFFAOYSA-N niobium atom Chemical compound [Nb] GUCVJGMIXFAOAE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000010936 titanium Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 229910052719 titanium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 7
- 229910052720 vanadium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 7
- LEONUFNNVUYDNQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N vanadium atom Chemical compound [V] LEONUFNNVUYDNQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000012535 impurity Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 10
- 229910002058 ternary alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 10
- QCWXUUIWCKQGHC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zirconium Chemical compound [Zr] QCWXUUIWCKQGHC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 229910052726 zirconium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 6
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229910000882 Ca alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 229910002056 binary alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000004584 weight gain Effects 0.000 description 2
- 235000019786 weight gain Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 229910001093 Zr alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000005275 alloying Methods 0.000 description 1
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000112 cooling gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012850 fabricated material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005242 forging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009472 formulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005272 metallurgy Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C25/00—Alloys based on beryllium
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
- G21C3/00—Reactor fuel elements and their assemblies; Selection of substances for use as reactor fuel elements
- G21C3/02—Fuel elements
- G21C3/04—Constructional details
- G21C3/06—Casings; Jackets
- G21C3/07—Casings; Jackets characterised by their material, e.g. alloys
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
- Y02E30/30—Nuclear fission reactors
Definitions
- the oxidation resistance of commercially produced reactor grade" beryllium is very good at elevated temperatures in air, but in pressured carbon dioxide the corrosion resistance in the temperature range 650 C. to 700 C. is very poor. Assessment of the degree of corrosion is difficult because oxidation occurs at randomly distributed areas on the surface due to local unavoidable impurities; these areas resemble blisters.
- the object of the present invention is to provide beryllium base alloys which, while possessing adequate resistance to corrosion and high neutron transparency, have improved mechanical properties over the binary beryllium-calcium alloy above-mentioned.
- the invention accordingly consists of a ternary alloy of beryllium with 0.1% to 3%, by weight, of calcium, and with 0.1% to 2.0%, by weight, of a metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium, niobium, vanadium, or titanium.
- the content of calcium in the ternary alloy is preferably 1.0%, by Weight, or more up to the limit of 3.0%, while the content of the additional element is preferably about 0.5%, by weight.
- the advantage of the ternary addition lies in the higher strength of the ternary alloy compared with the base binary beryllium-calcium alloy. This improved strength is achieved with only a marginal decrease in the corrosion resistance and without affecting the basic mechanism of corrosion protection afforded by the calcium addition.
- the decrease in corrosion resistance of the ternary alloys, as compared with the binary alloys is exemplified by the following particulars of tests carried out.
- the weight gain of a binary 0.56% calcium alloy was 0.286 mg./cm.
- the Weight gain of a beryllium 0.54% calcium-0.5% zirconium alloy was 0.746 mg./cm. In both cases the rate of corrosion was decelerating with exposure time, i.e., a protective oxide layer was formed.
- the ternary alloys can be made by any of the conventional powder metallurgical techniques. However, a preferred process comprises consumable-electrode arc melting followed by direct fabrication, i.e., extrusion of ingot to tube, or rod, etc., or by forging and rolling to sheet.
- a corrosion resistant beryllium-base alloy consisting of 0.1% to 3%, by weight, of calcium, 0.1% to 2%, by weight, of a metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium, niobium, vanadium and titanium, and remainder beryllium including unavoidable impurities.
- a corrosion resistant beryllium-base alloy consisting of 1.0% to 3%, by weight, of calcium, 0.5%, by weight, of a metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium, niobium, vanadium and titanium, and remainder beryllium including unavoidable impurities.
- a corrosion resistant beryllium-base alloy consisting of 1%, by weight, of calcium, 0.5%, by weight, of a metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium, niobium, vanadium and titanium, and remainder beryllium including unavoidable impurities.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
- High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
- Powder Metallurgy (AREA)
- Compositions Of Oxide Ceramics (AREA)
Description
United States Patent 3,145,098 llERYLLlllJh/i ALLOYS Thomas Raine, lltramhall, and James Alan Robinson, Cheadle, England, assiguors to Associated Electrical industries Limited, London, England, a British company No Drawing. Filed .iune 7, 1062, Ser. No. 200,633 Claims priority, application Great Britain June 27, 1961 3 Claims. (Cl. 75-150) This invention relates to alloys suitable for use at high temperatures in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide. Such conditions arise in the core of graphite-moderated advanced gas cooled nuclear reactors in which carbon dioxide is used for cooling and heat extraction and where metallic parts are in contact with the hot gas. Because of its extremely low neutron cross-section consideration has been given to the use of beryllium as a fuel containment material to protect the fuel from oxidation by the cooling gas and to promote eflicient heat exchange between the fuel and the gas.
The oxidation resistance of commercially produced reactor grade" beryllium is very good at elevated temperatures in air, but in pressured carbon dioxide the corrosion resistance in the temperature range 650 C. to 700 C. is very poor. Assessment of the degree of corrosion is difficult because oxidation occurs at randomly distributed areas on the surface due to local unavoidable impurities; these areas resemble blisters.
In co-pending application Serial No. 144,312, filed on October 11, 1961, by us and assigned to the assignee of the present application, we have proposed to increase the resistance to corrosion of beryllium to moist hot carbon dioxide by alloying with the beryllium 0.05% to 3.0%, by weight, of calcium. The addition of calcium to the beryllium does not materially affect the neutron transparency of the alloy.
The object of the present invention is to provide beryllium base alloys which, while possessing adequate resistance to corrosion and high neutron transparency, have improved mechanical properties over the binary beryllium-calcium alloy above-mentioned.
We have found that when beryllium is alloyed with any one of zirconium, niobium, vanadium and titanium, in addition to the calcium specified in the aforesaid specification to provide a ternary alloy, the resulting alloy has a greater strength than the binary beryllium-calcium alloy.
The invention accordingly consists of a ternary alloy of beryllium with 0.1% to 3%, by weight, of calcium, and with 0.1% to 2.0%, by weight, of a metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium, niobium, vanadium, or titanium.
The content of calcium in the ternary alloy is preferably 1.0%, by Weight, or more up to the limit of 3.0%, while the content of the additional element is preferably about 0.5%, by weight.
These formulations imply within the content of beryllium the inclusion of the unavoidable impurities present in reactor grade beryllium.
The advantage of the ternary addition lies in the higher strength of the ternary alloy compared with the base binary beryllium-calcium alloy. This improved strength is achieved with only a marginal decrease in the corrosion resistance and without affecting the basic mechanism of corrosion protection afforded by the calcium addition.
Results of mechanical tests at 600 C. show that the 3,145,098 Patented Aug. 18, 1964 ternary alloys have much greater strength than the binary alloys without a significant loss in ductility, e.g.,
Limit of Ultimate Percent Percent Room temperature hardness tests show hardness values varying from to V.P.N. for the binary alloys and from 200 to 230 V.P.N. for the ternary alloys.
The decrease in corrosion resistance of the ternary alloys, as compared with the binary alloys is exemplified by the following particulars of tests carried out. After 4-300 hours exposure at 700 C. in carbon dioxide at 300 p.s.i.g. pressure containing 300 ppm. H O, the weight gain of a binary 0.56% calcium alloy was 0.286 mg./cm. After the same time and under the same conditions the Weight gain of a beryllium 0.54% calcium-0.5% zirconium alloy was 0.746 mg./cm. In both cases the rate of corrosion was decelerating with exposure time, i.e., a protective oxide layer was formed. Results for ternary alloys containing titanium, niobium or vanadium in place of the zirconium in the above example were almost iden tical. By the addition of excess calcium, i.e., in the above case 1.0% total instead of 0.54% the corrosion behaviour of the ternary alloy is identical to that of the 0.56% calcium binary alloy mentioned above.
The ternary alloys can be made by any of the conventional powder metallurgical techniques. However, a preferred process comprises consumable-electrode arc melting followed by direct fabrication, i.e., extrusion of ingot to tube, or rod, etc., or by forging and rolling to sheet.
The choice of fabrication process does not affect the improvement in corrosion resistance by any significant amount.
All the tests above referred to were carried out on billets produced by are melting in vacuo. All results are for are melted and directly fabricated material with an oxygen content of about 200 ppm. weight.
What we claim is:
1. A corrosion resistant beryllium-base alloy consisting of 0.1% to 3%, by weight, of calcium, 0.1% to 2%, by weight, of a metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium, niobium, vanadium and titanium, and remainder beryllium including unavoidable impurities.
2. A corrosion resistant beryllium-base alloy consisting of 1.0% to 3%, by weight, of calcium, 0.5%, by weight, of a metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium, niobium, vanadium and titanium, and remainder beryllium including unavoidable impurities.
3. A corrosion resistant beryllium-base alloy consisting of 1%, by weight, of calcium, 0.5%, by weight, of a metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium, niobium, vanadium and titanium, and remainder beryllium including unavoidable impurities.
Kaufmann et al.: The Metallurgy of Beryllium, Transactions of the American Society of Metals, vol. 42, 1950, pages 801 and 840.
Claims (1)
1. A CORROSION RESISTANT BERYLLIUM-BASE ALLOY CONSISTING OF 0.1% TO 3%, BY WEIGHT, OF CALCIUM, 0.1% TO 2%, BY WEIGHT, OF A METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ZIRCOONIUM, NIOBIUM, VANADIUM AND TITANIUM, AND REMAINDER BERYLLIUM INCLUDING UNAVOIDABLE IMPURITIES.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB23229/61A GB933408A (en) | 1961-06-27 | 1961-06-27 | Beryllium alloys |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US3145098A true US3145098A (en) | 1964-08-18 |
Family
ID=10192260
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US280633A Expired - Lifetime US3145098A (en) | 1961-06-27 | 1962-06-07 | Beryllium alloys |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US3145098A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE1179719B (en) |
| GB (1) | GB933408A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5268334A (en) * | 1991-11-25 | 1993-12-07 | Brush Wellman, Inc. | Production of beryllium oxide powders with controlled morphology and quality |
Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2306592A (en) * | 1941-08-12 | 1942-12-29 | Machlett Lab Inc | Beryllium alloy |
-
1961
- 1961-06-27 GB GB23229/61A patent/GB933408A/en not_active Expired
-
1962
- 1962-06-07 US US280633A patent/US3145098A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1962-06-26 DE DEA40531A patent/DE1179719B/en active Pending
Patent Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2306592A (en) * | 1941-08-12 | 1942-12-29 | Machlett Lab Inc | Beryllium alloy |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5268334A (en) * | 1991-11-25 | 1993-12-07 | Brush Wellman, Inc. | Production of beryllium oxide powders with controlled morphology and quality |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB933408A (en) | 1963-08-08 |
| DE1179719B (en) | 1964-10-15 |
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