PNNL

Samples of U-10wt%Mo (U-Mo) alloy were thermomechanically processed and annealed at 600 °C and 700 °C for periods lasting up to 8 hours. Annealed microstructures were examined using electron backscattered diffraction in order to estimate the completeness of recrystallization. Hardness measurements of the U-Mo samples were taken to further qualify the progress of recovery and recrystallization. This allowed us to evaluate the recrystallization activation energy and the recrystallization kinetics with a Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov equation. The results show that the activation energy of recrystallization is approximately 100.6 kJ/mol. The mechanisms active in the recrystallization of cold-rolled U-10 wt% Mo are discussed in the context of these results.