Research on the Surface Modification of Pure Zirconium by Electron Beam

Abstract

In this paper, the changes of surface morphology, microstructure, hardness and corrosion resistance of industrial pure zirconium before and after surface modification by high current pulsed electron beam were discussed. The microstructure evolution and surface morphologies of the samples were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experimental results show that sample by high current pulsed electron beam treatment surface melting, martensitic phase transformation occurred, and volcanic crater morphology and fine microstructure in the remelted layer surface; with the increase of number of pulses, after processing the microhardness of the samples also with the increase, 15-pulsed sample microhardness than the original sample increased by 30.9%. Corrosion resistance of samples was studied with the impedance diagram and polarization curve. The electrochemical results show that corrosion resistance of samples by high current pulsed electron beam treatment presents different degrees of change, the 5-pulsed sample in 1 mol HNO3 solution corrosion of the best, and 15-pulsed sample corrosion resistance is even lower than the original sample. Grain refinement, martensite transformation, dislocation and deformation twins are the main reasons for improving the micro hardness and corrosion resistance of the samples.