Nuclear Engineering and Technology

  • 제51권3호
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  • Pages.776-783
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  • 2019
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  • 1738-5733(pISSN)
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  • 2234-358X(eISSN)
한국원자력학회 (Korean Nuclear Society)
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Pulsed laser welding of Zr-1%Nb alloy

  • Elkin, Maxim A. (Tomsk Polytechnic University) ;
  • Kiselev, Alexey S. (Tomsk Polytechnic University) ;
  • Slobodyan, Mikhail S. (Tomsk Polytechnic University)
  • 투고 : 2018.07.16
  • 심사 : 2018.12.21
  • 발행 : 2019.04.25
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초록

Laser welding is usually a more effective method than electron-beam one since a vacuum chamber is not required. It is important for joining Zr-1%Nb (E110) alloy in a manufacturing process of nuclear fuel rods. In the present work, effect of energy parameters of pulsed laser welding on properties of butt joints of sheets with a thickness of 0.5 mm is investigated. The most efficient combination has been found (8-11 J pulse energy, 10-14 ms pulse duration, 780-810 W peak pulse power, 3 Hz pulse frequency, 1.12 mm/s welding speed). The results show that ultimate strength under static loading can not be used as a quality criterion for zirconium alloys welds. Increased shielding gas flow rate does not allow to protect weld metal totally and contributes to defect formation without using special nozzles. Several types of imperfections of the welds have been found, but the major problem is branching microcracks on the surface of the welds. It is difficult to identify the cause of their appearance without additional research on improving the welding zone protection (gas composition and flow rate as well as nozzle configuration) and studying the hydrogen content in the welds.

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피인용 문헌

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  2. Experimental and Numerical Study of AISI 4130 Steel Surface Hardening by Pulsed Nd:YAG Laser vol.12, pp.19, 2019, https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12193136
  3. Resistance, electron- and laser-beam welding of zirconium alloys for nuclear applications: A review vol.53, pp.4, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2020.10.005
  4. High-temperature oxidation of Cr-coated laser beam welds made from E110 zirconium alloy vol.195, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.corsci.2021.110018