ANALYSIS OF SINTERED ZrXEr1-X OBTAINED THROUGH POWDER METALLURGY

This paper aims to analyze Zr-Er sintered compounds obtained through powder metallurgy, with different concentrations, able to store H2. To obtain Zr-Er sintered compacts, in the first phase, zirconium and erbium were hydrides separately, at 750°C in a hydrogen atmosphere, for two hours each, to obtain zirconium and erbium hydrides. Using XRD analysis, both zirconium and erbium formed ErH3 and ZrH2. After the mechanical processing, morphological analysis performed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) revealed microparticles with sizes ranging from 8.08 µm to 27.16 µm for ZrH2, 3.72 µm to 17.86 µm for ErH3. The mixtures of hydride powders were pressed in a cylindrical mold, and two ZrxEr1-x(x=0.25;0.75) pressed compacts were obtained. These samples were subjected to a heat treatment, in a helium atmosphere, that included a dehydrogenation treatment, followed by a sintering treatment, at 1200°C, for two hours. The compounds obtained were geometrically characterized, their experimentally determined density being more than 90% of their calculated density. SEM analysis of the sintered compounds revealed a densification of zirconium and erbium particles, and also, the higher the zirconium content, the more pores the sintered sample has. SEM-EDS microstructural analysis shows a uniform distribution of the component elements, and an increased tendency of erbium to oxidize.