Characterisation of Hydrides in a Zirconium Alloy, by EBSD

Zirconium alloys are used in nuclear reactors owing to their low capture cross-section for thermal neutrons and good mechanical and corrosion properties. However, they suffer from delayed hydrogen cracking (DHC) due to the formation of hydride particles.

Hydrided electron beam welded zirconium alloy specimens were prepared by electro-polishing. The specimens were characterised in a FEG SEM and the EBSD technique using Oxford Instruments EBSD detectors and AZtecHKL software.

By downloading this application note you will see:

• How electron backscattered technique (EBSD) can be used to characterise hydrides in terms of their orientation relationship with the matrix and internal structure and local misorientation
• How careful preparation of hydrided zirconium alloy can yield specimens suitable for EBSD characterisation to determine the orientation relation between hydrides and matrix

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