Experimental investigation and thermodynamic modeling of the Zr-Y system

Abstract

Based on the critical review of all the available experimental data in the literature, 8 key alloys were prepared by arc melting to investigate the phase equilibria in the Zr-Y system, These alloys, which were annealed at 5 different temperatures (800?C, 1000?C, 1100?C, 1120?C, 1160?C), were analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results showed that a peritectoid reaction (?Zr) + (?Y) = (?Zr) occurs at 886?C ? 5?C, and an eutectic reaction L = (?Zr) + (?Y) occurs at 1313?C ? 5?C. Taking into account the experimental data obtained both from this work and the literature, the Zr-Y system was thermodynamically modeled. The previously reported temperature for the peritectic reaction of (?Y) + L = (?Y) at about 1490 ?C is supported by our thermodynamic calculation. Comparison between the calculated and measured phase diagrams shows that the thermodynamic calculation can well account for the experimental data.