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Title: Neutron Irradiation Resistance of RAFM Steels

Conference ·
OSTI ID:21091563
; ;  [1]
  1. Institute for Materials Research II, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen (Germany)

The neutron irradiation resistance of the reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steel EUROFER97 and international reference steels (F82H-mod, OPTIFER-Ia, GA3X and MANET-I) have been investigated after irradiation in the Petten High Flux Reactor up to 16.3 dpa at different irradiation temperatures (250-450 deg. C). The embrittlement behavior and hardening are investigated by instrumented Charpy-V tests with sub-size specimens. Neutron irradiation-induced embrittlement and hardening of EUROFER97 was studied under different heat treatment conditions. Embrittlement and hardening of as-delivered EUROFER97 steel are comparable to those of reference steels. Heat treatment of EUROFER97 at a higher austenitizing temperature substantially improves the embrittlement behaviour at low irradiation temperatures. Analysis of embrittlement vs. hardening behavior of RAFM steels within a proper model in terms of the parameter C={delta}DBTT/{delta}{sigma} indicates hardening-dominated embrittlement at irradiation temperatures below 350 deg. C with 0.17 {<=} C {<=} 0.53 deg. C/MPa. Scattering of C at irradiation temperatures above 400 deg. C indicates non hardening embrittlement. A role of He in a process of embrittlement is investigated in EUROFER97 based steels, that are doped with different contents of natural B and the separated {sup 10}B-isotope (0.008-0.112 wt.%). Testing on small scale fracture mechanical specimens for determination of quasi-static fracture toughness will be also presented in a view of future irradiation campaigns. (authors)

Research Organization:
Materials Research Society, 506 Keystone Drive, Warrendale, PA, 15086-7573 (United States)
OSTI ID:
21091563
Resource Relation:
Conference: Symposium on Structural and Refractory Materials for Fusion and Fission Technologies, Boston, MA (United States), 28-30 Nov 2006; Other Information: Country of input: France; Related Information: In: Proceedings of the Symposium on Structural and Refractory Materials for Fusion and Fission Technologies, by Aktaa, J. [ed. Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH, Institute for Materials Research II, Postfach 3640, 76021 Karlsruhe (Germany)]; Samaras, M. [ed. Paul Scherrer Institute, Nuclear Energy and Safety, CH-5232 Villigen PSI (Switzerland)]; Serrano de Caro, M. [ed. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Chemical Biology and Nuclear Science Division, L-632, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, CA 94550 (United States)]; Victoria, M. [ed. Polytechnic University of Madrid, Instituto de Fusion Nuclear, J. Gutierrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid (Spain)]; Wirth, B. [ed. University of California-Berkeley, Nuclear Engineering Dept., Berkeley, CA 94720-1730 (United States)], v. 981E, 112 pages.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English