Aging effects on microstructural and mechanical properties of select refractory metal alloys for space-reactor applications

Refractory alloys based on niobium, tantalum and molybdenum are potential candidate materials for structural applications in proposed space nuclear reactors. Long-term microstructural stability is a requirement of these materials for their use in this type of creep dominated application. Early work on refractory metal alloys has shown aging embrittlement occurring for some niobium and tantalum-base alloys at temperatures near 40% of their melting temperatures in either the base metal or in weldments. Other work has suggested microstructural instabilities during long-term creep testing, leading to decreased creep performance. This paper examines the effect of aging 1100 h at 1098, 1248 and 1398 K on the microstructural and mechanical properties of two niobium (Nb–1Zr and FS-85), tantalum (T-111 and ASTAR-811C) and molybdenum (Mo–41Re and Mo–47.5Re) base alloys. Changes in material properties are examined through mechanical tensile testing coupled with electrical resistivity changes and microstructural examination through optical and electron microscopy analysis.