Thermal creep fracture of a Zr1%Nb cladding alloy in the α and (α+β) phase regions

The objective of the present study was to provide new relevant information on creep behaviour and fracture processes in a sponge-based modified Zr1%Nb cladding alloy (modified E110 alloy) in the α-Zr and (α+β)-Zr phase regions. To this end, constant load creep tests were carried out in argon at testing temperature intervals from 350°C to 950°C, and applied tensile stresses ranging from 5 MPa to 210 MPa, corresponding to the power-law breakdown...