Overlay welding irradiated stainless steel
An overlay technique developed for welding irradiated stainless steel may be important for repair or modification of fusion reactor materials. Helium, present due to n,{alpha} reactions, is known to cause cracking using conventional welding methods. Stainless steel impregnated with 3 to 220 appm helium by decay of tritium was used to develop a welding process that could be used for repair. The result was a gas metal arc weld overlay technique with low-heat input and low-penetration into the helium-containing material. Extensive metallurgical and mechanical testing of this technique demonstrated substantial reduction of helium embrittlement damage. The overlay technique was applied to irradiated 304 stainless steel containing 10 appm helium. Surface cracking, present in conventional welds made on the same steel at lower helium concentrations, was eliminated. Underbead cracking, although greater than for tritium charged and aged material, was minimal compared to conventional welding methods.
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-89SR18035
- OSTI ID:
- 10178743
- Report Number(s):
- WSRC-MS--93-091; CONF-930928--1; ON: DE93018767
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
360101
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700480
COMPONENT DEVELOPMENT
CRACKS
GAS METAL-ARC WELDING
HELIUM EMBRITTLEMENT
IRRADIATION
MATERIALS STUDIES
MECHANICAL TESTS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
PREPARATION AND FABRICATION
REPAIR
STAINLESS STEEL-304
STAINLESS STEELS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTOR MATERIALS
TRITIUM