Study of the microstructure of a HCP zirconium alloy using synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction

Synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction has been applied for the precision study of the micro-structure evolution of a Zr-1% Nb alloy deformed by uniaxial tension. A nonmonotonic pattern of the integral width of X-ray lines as a function of in situ deformation and acting stress has been revealed, which is in agreement with intensity fluctuations of reflections and elastic microdistortions related to structural imperfection. The obtained results correlate with transmission electron microscopy data on the cyclicity of dislocation transformations during necking.