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U.S. Department of Energy
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EFFECT OF HIGH-TEMPERATURE SODIUM ON AUSTENITIC AND FERRITIC STEELS. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS. Progress Report 41, January 1964

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4115166· OSTI ID:4115166

The research program was initiated for the purpose of determining the effects of high temperature reactor grade sodium, and normally anticipated contaminants, upon Type 316 stainless steel and 21/4 Cr-- 1 Mo steel. For comparison, the physical properties of these same materials were to be determined in air and helium. The test temperatures selected were 1200 deg F for the austenitic and 1100 deg F for the ferritic. The contaminants to be intentionally introduced into the sodium after the reactor grade sodium tests were completed are oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen. The types of test selected for revealing any possible effects of the envr-ronments upon the materials were tensile, creep, creepto-rupture, and fatigue. Tests 1 and 2 were completed. The complexity of the Na--C--stainless steel system has delayed the specimen testing in Test 3 (type 316 stainless steel in 1200 deg F high-carbon sodium). The creep, creep- torupture, and fatigue tests in sodium were completed for Test 4 (21/4 Cr- 1 Mo steel in 1100 deg F high-oxygen sodium). The creep tests show a lower creep rate in high-oxygen sodium as compared with low-oxygen sodium, but the creep rate is still higher than in air or helium. The creep-torupture tests show a shorter life in high-oxygen sodium, while the fatigue tests show no difference in fatigue life. Preliminary results indicate faster decarburization of 21/4 Cr- 1 Mo steel in high-oxygen sodium. (D.L.C.)

Research Organization:
MSA Research Corp., Callery, Penna. (US)
NSA Number:
NSA-18-012582
OSTI ID:
4115166
Report Number(s):
MSAR-64-14
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English