Investigation of a→w transformation in the Zr-Hf system to 42 GPa

Abstract

Structural transformations in pure Zr and Hf and their alloys with 5.2, 21.1, 42.9, and 71.3 at . % Hf have been investigated up to 42 GPa (1 GPa = 10 kbar) at room temperature (∼22 °C) by in situ high-pressure x-ray diffraction techniques, using a diamond-anvil pressure cell. The pressure of transformation a→w increases rapidly with increasing Hf content. On extrapolation, the pressure of transformation a→w for Hf is estimated to be in the order of 60 GPa. Values of the c0/a0 ratio of the pressure-induced w phase for Zr and its alloys are 0.621±0.002, in good agreement with those of heat-treated w phases in the Zr-Nb system.