Differential Thermal Analysis of Solid Zirconium

Several observations are made in the differential thermal analysis (DTA) test of solid zirconium (Zr) specimens. It is found that an increasing heating rate generally increases the solid-phase transition temperature for both nondeformed and cold-worked specimens, but to a different extent. Upon cycling the specimen with a constant heating rate, the phase transition temperature decreases initially during the first few runs and then remains constant. Also, holding a specimen for some time just before the phase transition during heating increases the phase transition temperature. Specimen heating history and prior cold work are also found to influence the solid-phase transition temperature.