Sintering of Alloyed Zirconium Powders and Selected Properties at High Temperatures

The SPS method was used to sinter zirconium powder mixtures. Materials were prepared from pure zirconium powder and mixtures with 2.5 wt% additives of Cu, Nb or Mn powders. The influence of hydrogen and oxygen on the phase compositions of sintered materials are presented. Based on the studies of oxidized materials microstructures, degradation mechanisms of sintered zirconium materials were analyzed for materials after annealing at 300, 500, and 700 °C. Zr-2.5Cu showed the lowest tendency to oxidize despite the low values of activation energy for the oxidation process in air of 61 kJ/mol. The tensile strength tests of the sintered zirconium materials were carried out at 300 °C, 500 °C and 700 °C. Porosity mainly affects the mechanical properties of sintered zirconium materials.