The evolution of the crystallographic texture and lattice strain of uranium 6-weight percent niobium alloy samples are tracked during multiple deformation and heat treating cycles in an effort to understand and control the mechanical properties of the material following thermo-mechanical processing. The heavily twinned microstructure and low-symmetry crystal structure of U-6Nb result in multiple sequential active deformation mechanisms associated with distinctive deformation textures in strain ranges from 0-0.15 true strain. It is found that heating into the high-temperature γ-phase erases much of the texture formed during deformation at room temperature in the α′′-phase and resets the active deformation mechanisms. Through a small number of deformation/heat treat cycles to moderate strains, i.e., ~ 0.13 per cycle, the flow strength of the material is recovered to its original value. However, on the fourth such cycle, a reduction of strength is observed and the sample failed.

在多次变形和热处理循环过程中，跟踪了重量百分比为6％的铌合金铀合金的晶体织构和晶格应变演变，以了解和控制热机械加工后材料的机械性能。U-6Nb的高孪晶微观结构和低对称晶体结构导致多个顺序的主动变形机制，与变形范围从0-0.15真实应变的独特变形织构相关。发现在高温γ相中加热消除了在室温下在α′′相中变形期间形成的许多织构，并使主动变形机制复位。通过少量的变形/热处理循环，以适度应变，即，每个循环约0.13，材料的流动强度恢复到其原始值。然而，在第四个这样的循环中，观察到强度降低并且样品失败。