THE EFFECT OF NEUTRON IRRADIATION ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF INCONEL "X" AND INCONEL NICKEL-CHROMIUM ALLOYS

Technical Report ·

OSTI ID:4186988

Capp, C R

Tensile specimens of Inconel"X," age-hardenable nickel-chromium alloy, and of Inconel nickel-chromium alloy, ia several metallurgical conditions (solution heat treated, mill annealed, cold drawn 35%) were irradiated at 50, 250, and 300 deg C, with integrated fast neutron fluxes of 1.3 x 10/sup 20/, 3.1 x 10/sup 19/ and 7.5 x 10/sup 19/ n/cm/sup 2/, respectivel y. Room-temperature tensile tests of specimens irradiated at 50 deg C showed that the proportional limit and yield strength of annnealed structures were considerably increased, while the cold-drawn specimens were much less affected. There was a relatively small (10 to 20%) increase in the ultimate tensile strength of all specimens, accompanied by a 25 to 40% decrease in per cent total elongation. Property changes is the specimens irradiated at higher temperatures were not as great and results indicate that saturation occurs after about 3.1 x 10/sup 19/ n/cm/sup 2/. A slight yield point was observed in irradiated annealed (or solution treated) Inconel "X" alloy. This was more marked in the cold-drawn condition and well- developed in cold-drawn Inconel alloy. Recovery of mechanical property changes in annealed material irradiated at 50 deg C was not completed in one hour at temperatures below 600 deg C, at which temperature ageing had already started in unirradiated controls. Recovery started at 200 deg and continued gradually to 600 deg C. There was no evidence of ageing, during the postirradiation anneals, in the irradiated specimens prior to that in the unirradiated controls. Considerable recovery during irradiation at the elevated temperatures was suggested by the properties reaching constant values at fairly low flux levels. There was no evidence to suggest radiation enhanced ageing under any test conditions. There was no recovery of cold work in Inconel "X" alloy on irradiation at 160 deg C. (auth)

• Research Organization: International Nickel Co., Inc., New York
• NSA Number: NSA-14-009814
• OSTI ID: 4186988
• Report Number(s): CRMet-870; AECL-948
• Country of Publication: Canada
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALLOYS
ALUMINUM ALLOYS
ANNEALING
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
COLD WORKING
FAST NEUTRONS
HARDNESS
HEAT TREATMENTS
INCONEL ALLOYS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALS, CERAMICS, AND MATERIALS
NEUTRON FLUX
NICKEL ALLOYS
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RECOVERY
SATURATION
TEMPERATURE
TENSILE PROPERTIES
TESTING
TITANIUM ALLOYS