Part X - The 1967 Howe Memorial Lecture – Iron and Steel Division - Equilibrium Studies on the Systems ZrCr2-H2, ZrV2-H2, and ZrMo2-H, Between 0° and 900°C

Pressure-composition isotherms have been determinedfor the systems ZrMo2 -H2 between 0" and 900°C at hydrogen pressures between 10-4 and 760 Torr. Tkese studies plus X-ray diffraction analyses of selected compositions show that these intermetallic compounds form a complete series of hydrogen solid solutions within this temperature and pressure range. The partial molar enthalpies and entropies of solution of hydrogen in the three intermetallic compounds were calculated. The solubility of hydrogen in these Laves phases can be related to their free electron concentration. ThE reaction of hydrogen with inter metallic compounds of zirconium with Laves phase-type structure has both theoretical and practical interest. The in-termetallic compounds have structures different from any of the pure metals. In addition the electron to atom ratio of the intermetallics varies appreciably. In the nuclear materials field, these materials are of interest since intermetallic compounds may exist as precipitates in commercial zirconium alloys with transition metals. From studies on the hydrogen reaction, one can establish the stability of the intermetallic compounds relative to the hydrides of the component metals. The intermetallic compounds may also be used as getters for hydrogen and as materials for hydrogen storage. This paper will present the results of equilibrium and structural investigations of the ZrCr2-H2, the ZrV2-H2, and the ZrMo2-H2 systems for the temperature range of 0" to 900°C and the pressure range of Torr to 1 atm. A complete thermochemical analysis will be made of the measurements. Some of the results have been referred to in a survey paper' covering the types of hydrogen behavior observed in zirconium alloys. LITERATURE ZrCr2 is the only intermetallic phase in the Zr-Cr system.' It exists in two allotropic modifications. Between 900" and 1000°C the hexagonal MgZa (C14) structure transforms into the cubic MgCu2 (C15) structure. Beck4 has previously shown that the intermetallic ZrCrz takes up hydrogen into solid solution up to a composition H/ZrCr2 = 1.14 at room temperature and 1 atm hydrogen. A ZrCr2 hydride was stated to have a fcc structure. The binary Zr-V system has been investigated by williams5 although Rostoker and Yamamoto 6 had given earlier a partial phase diagram. ZrV2 was the only intermediate phase found in the system. wallbaum7 reported earlier that the compound ZrV2 hp the MgZm (CJ4) type structure with a = 5.288A and c = 8.664A. This was not comfirmed by Elliot8 nor by Matthias, Compton, and corenzwit9 who reported that ZrV2 has a cubic MgCua LC15) type structure. The latter authors gave a = 7.429A. Also, several authors do not agree on the temperature of the peri-tectic horizontal. It appears that ZrV2 may exist in several modifications. A high capacity for occluding hydrogen was reported by Beck4 who found H/ZrV2 = 1.38 at room temperature and 1 atm of hydrogen. ZrMoz is the only intermetallic phase in the Zr-Mo system.10 ZrMoa is formed by a peritectic reaction of the melt with a molybdenum-rich solid solution. ZrMo2 has the C15-type structure with a = 7.59A. MATERIALS High-purity chromium, vanadium, and molybdenum were used together with grade 1 crystal bar zirconium to prepare the alloys. Table I lists the chemical analysis and the sources for the metals. Ten-gram alloy compacts were levitated and melted in an inert argon