Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Behavior of Structural Materials Exposed to an Organic Moderated Reactor Environment

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4204672· OSTI ID:4204672
 [1];  [1]
  1. North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, CA (United States). Atomics International Div.
The behavior of various structural materials, including Type 1020 carbon steel, Types 304 and 410 stainless steel, Type 4130 alloy steel, aluminum, and magnesium, in an organic moderated and cooled reactor have been determined. In-pile specimens examined were exposed to measured integrated neutron fluxes in the order of 9.0 x 1019 nvt thermal and 2.8 x 1020 nvt fast (energies > 1 Mev). Exposure time was eight months, during which the reactor achieved 544 Mwd of operation. A polyphenyl, composed of ortho-, meta-, and paraterphenyls and diphenyl, with various amounts of high boiler compounds, served as the coolant. Nominal bulk coolant temperature in the core was 600 °F. Out-of-pile specimens were exposed for 13 months in a bypass line of the reactor. Results of the examination indicated the environment to be noncorrosive in nature. With the exception of magnesium, the corrosion resistance of all materials tested was considered good to excellent. The environment caused neither stress corrosion nor accelerated attack of bimetal couples. Irradiation had no significant effect on the corrosion resistance of the materials tested. Mechanical property changes after irradiation were the same as those expected in materials irradiated without the polyphenyl environment. These changes were attributed to radiation damage. Ferritic grade steels were most affected; however, the magnitude of these changes is not considered serious. Slight changes in the postexposure mechanical properties of out-of-pile specimens were concluded to be thermally induced.
Research Organization:
North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, CA (United States). Atomics International Div.
Sponsoring Organization:
US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
DOE Contract Number:
AT(11-1)-GEN-8
NSA Number:
NSA-13-022399
OSTI ID:
4204672
Report Number(s):
NAA-SR--2570
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English