The effect of cooling rate and grain size on hydride formation in Zircaloy-4

We explore the distribution, morphology and structure of zirconium hydrides formed using different cooling rates through the solid state Zr+[H] --> Zr + hydride transus, in fine and blocky alpha Zircaloy-4. We observe that cooling rate and grain size control the phase and distribution of hydrides. The blocky alpha (coarse grain, > 200 micrometer) Zircaloy-4, has a smaller grain boundary area to grain volume ratio and this significantly affects nucleation and growth of hydrides as compared to fine grain size (~11 micrometer) material.Comment: Submitted for peer review as a short communication, changes for second submission highlighte

An iterative method for reference pattern selection in high-resolution electron backscatter diffraction (HR-EBSD)

For high (angular) resolution electron backscatter diffraction (HR-EBSD), the selection of a reference diffraction pattern (EBSP0) significantly affects the precision of the calculated strain and rotation maps. This effect was demonstrated in plastically deformed body-centred cubic and face-centred cubic ductile metals (ferrite and austenite grains in duplex stainless steel) and brittle single-crystal silicon, which showed that the effect is not only limited to measurement magnitude but also spatial distribution. An empirical relationship was then identified between the cross-correlation parameter and angular error, which was used in an iterative algorithm to identify the optimal reference pattern that maximises the precision of HR-EBSD

Evaluating the ESL Reading Texts for Intermediate Learners of English from the Perspective of Students

In order to provide an evaluation of the suitability of reading texts from the perspective of students in university-based intensive English programme this study examined 53 international ESL intermediate learners perceptions of reading texts for a period of 14 weeks reading proficiency lessons Features evaluated include content readability exploitability and authenticity of the reading texts The participants responded to a textbook evaluation questionnaire to express their perceptions with reference to the features of the reading texts Results indicated the extent of appropriateness of the reading texts incorporated in the programme s reading textbook used by intermediate learners of English Further consideration must be given to text selection by including the aspect of authentic text presentatio