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Title: A SURVEY OF THE EFFECTS OF NEUTRON IRRADIATION ON THE IMPACT AND OTHER MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PRESSURE VESSEL STEELS FOR THE SM-2 REACTOR

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4162904· OSTI ID:4162904

A literature survey on the effects of neutron irradiation on impact and other mechanical properties of both ferritic steels and austenitic stainless steels is presented.The materials studied included carbon and low alloy steels such as: ASTM A-212B, ASTM A-201, ASTM A-301B (CR-Mo), ASTM A-106 (coarse and fine grained), ASTM A-285, ASTM A-302B (Mn-Mo), ASTM A-353, ASTM A-203, Grade D, E-7016 carbon steel weld metal, USS Carilloy T-1, HY-65, and HY-80. Types 304 and 347 stainless steels were investigated as representative austenitic materials which might be used in pressure vessel construction. An evaluation was made of the irradiation induced changes in the mechancal properties of the above materials. The ferritic steels were evaluated primarily on the basis of increases in transition temperature due to irradiation and decreases in the amount of maximum energy absorbed prior to ductile failure. Factors such as industrial experience, changes in other mechanical properties, and the susceptibility of these materials to temper embrittlement were considered. Austenitic stainless steels were evaluated on the basis of post-irradiation and low temperature impact strength and on irradiation induced changes in other mechanical properties. It is concluded that austenitic stainless steels are capable of resisting harmful property damage at integrated neutron fluxes > 1 Mev of at least 1 to 2 x 10/sup 21/ nvt. Most carbon or low alloy steels with the exception of ASTM A-212B, were subject to severe property damage at exposures in excess of 1 x 10/sup 19/ nvt. With the application of special reactor operating procedures, it was determined that ASTM A-212B will be satisfactory at integrated neutron fluxes up to 5 x 10/sup 19/ nvt. (auth)

Research Organization:
Alco Products, Inc., Schenectady, NY (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AT(30-3)-326
NSA Number:
NSA-14-017038
OSTI ID:
4162904
Report Number(s):
APAE-61
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-60
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English