Phase transition temperature and non-isothermal kinetics in zirconium alloys by differential scanning calorimetry

Abstract

In this study, zirconium alloys were analyzed for their phase transformation behavior and kinetics in the presence of non-isothermal conditions through differential scanning calorimetry. The phase transition temperature was examined on the differential thermal curves. Indeed, it was affected by heating rates, and the equilibrium transformation temperature of the alloy was extrapolated using a model approach. The α → β phase transformation activation energy was calculated using Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose as well as Flynn–Wall–Ozawa approach, and activation energy was related to conversion ratios, thus suggesting that phase transformation refers to the complicated multi-step reaction. Furthermore, the alloy transformation mechanism was discussed using the optimized Johnson-Mehl-Avrami.