The Effect of Homogenization Heat Treatment on the Texture Evolution in U-10Mo Alloy

Uranium alloyed with 10 wt pct Mo (U-10Mo) undergoes discontinuous precipitation (DP) when subjected to sub-eutectoid heat treatment. It is hypothesized that the crystallographic texture of the U-10Mo can be modified to minimize the degree of DP, however, the evolution of texture throughout the manufacturing process is not well understood. Crystallographic textures evolution of two U-10Mo samples homogenized at 900 °C and 1000 °C were investigated after uniaxial rolling and annealing. A total of six samples were analyzed upon rolling using a combination of hot and cold rolling conditions to thickness reductions of 83, 90, and 97 pct and subsequently annealed at 700 °C for 1 hour. Microstructures and textures were analyzed via electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) for each reduction and post-annealed states. Results show that the U-10Mo exhibits typical rolling textures seen in body-centered cubic materials with prominent α - and γ -fibers with each reduction. After recrystallization, the texture was effectively randomized in all samples. Homogenization temperature showed a minimal impact on the rolling and recrystallization behavior. Potential factors leading to the randomization of texture are discussed along with the implications of textures on the minimization of DP.