Effect of Heat Treatments on Precipitate Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of CuCrZr Alloy

A number of specimens of CuCrZr alloy was prime aged and then overaged at 600°C for 1, 2 and 4 hours and for 4 hours at 700 and 850°C. After different heat treatments, both the precipitate microstructure and mechanical properties were characterized. Mechanical properties were determined at 50 and 300°C. Some selected specimens in the prime aged as well as overaged conditions were irradiated in the BR-2 reactor at Mol at 60 and 300°C to a displacement dose level of ~0.3 dpa. Irradiated specimens were mechanically tested at 60 and 300°C. The post-deformation microstructure of the irradiated specimens was examined in the transmission electron microscope. Results of the present investigations are presented in section 3. A brief summary of the main results and conclusions is given in section 4.