Gamma ray-induced embrittlement of pressure vessel alloys
- Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
High-energy gamma rays emitted from the core of a nuclear reactor produce displacement damage in the reactor pressure vessel (RPV). The contribution of gamma damage to RPV embrittlement has in the past been largely ignored. However, in certain reactor designs the gamma flux at the RPV is sufficiently large that its contribution to displacement damage can be substantial. For example, gamma rays have been implicated in the accelerated RPV embrittlement observed in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In the present study, mechanical property changes induced by 10-MeV electron irradiation of a model Fe alloy and an RPV alloy of interest to the HFIR were examined. Mini-tensile specimens were irradiated with high-energy electrons to reproduce damage characteristic of the Compton recoil-electrons induced by gamma bombardment. Substantial increases in yield and ultimate stress were observed in the alloys after irradiation to doses up to 5.3x10{sup {minus}3} dpa at temperatures ({approximately}50{degrees}C) characteristic of the HFIR pressure vessel. These measured increases were similar to those previously obtained following neutron irradiation, despite the highly disparate nature of the damage generated during electron and neutron irradiation.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 10118355
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/MSD/CP-83383; CONF-941144-72; ON: DE95007133; TRN: 95:002578
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Fall meeting of the Materials Research Society (MRS),Boston, MA (United States),28 Nov - 9 Dec 1994; Other Information: PBD: Nov 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
PRESSURE VESSELS
EMBRITTLEMENT
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
WATER COOLED REACTORS
STEEL-ASTM-A212
ATOMIC DISPLACEMENTS
STRESS ANALYSIS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
GAMMA RADIATION
ORNL
COMPTON EFFECT
DUCTILITY
DAMAGING NEUTRON FLUENCE
STRESSES
RADIATION HARDENING
FRENKEL DEFECTS
RECOILS
220200
360106
COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES
RADIATION EFFECTS