Tensile creep and rupture behavior along with evolution of microstructure in a Zr-2.5Nb alloy

Tensile creep behavior of the Zr-2.5Nb alloy has been studied through tests under constant load (stress range ~ 137–371 MPa) between 275 and 375 °C. The minimum creep rate of the alloy is found to vary with applied stress and temperature following a power-law relation. The values of stress exponent (n) obtained in the range of 5.3–6.8 in the temperature interval of 300–375 °C; whereas it is calculated as 1.2 and 7.0 under low and high stresses,...