Analysis of atomic distribution near grain boundary in Zr-Sn-Nb-Fe-(Cu) alloys by atom probe tomography

Atom probe tomography was used to study the distribution of alloying elements near grain boundaries (GBs) in Zr-1.0Sn-0.3Nb-0.3Fe-(0.1Cu) alloys at the early stage of aging after beta quenching. Cu was observed to segregate at GBs for the first time. Zr3Fe, Zr-3(Fe,Cu) and Zr(Nb,Fe,Cr)(2) are precipitated on or near GBs. In addition, the impurity Si is mainly precipitates in the form of second-phase particles (SPPs), forming Zr-3(Fe,Si) and Zr-3(Fe,Cu,Si). (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.