Progress of zirconium alloying in iron-based alloys and steels

Zirconium is used as an alloying element owing to its ability to form carbides, nitrides, oxides, and other intermetallic compounds. Zirconium alloying has the high efficacy in increasing the oxidation and irradiation resistance of steel via the formation of Zr-containing complex oxides. Furthermore, the formation of oxides and intermetallic compounds was shown to inhibit corrosion. The use of Zr as an alloying element facilitated stabilization of the microstructure at elevated temperatures and under high-heat-input welding conditions. The present review summarizes studies examining the influence of Zr on the formation of Zr-containing phases, microstructure stabilization, and various properties, such as mechanical properties, high-temperature oxidation resistance, irradiation resistance, and corrosion resistance. Furthermore, the applications of Zr to four types of steels, i.e. Zr-containing oxide-dispersion strengthened (ODS) steels, Zr-containing stainless steels, Zr-containing heat-resistant steels, and high-heat-input welding steels, under different conditions were summarized and analyzed.