COMPATIBILITY OF BORON CARBIDE WITH POTENTIAL AOMR CONTROL ROD CLADDING MATERIALS

Technical Report · Thu Jan 31 04:00:00 EST 1963

OSTI ID:4709900

Hahn, R D

The solid state compatibility of boron carbides with commercial copper, Types 304 and 430 stainless steels, and AISI 4130 steel was investigated. The diffusion couples were hot pressed under dynamic vacuum at 1200 nif- F for 4 hours to attain good initial contact. Heat treatments were conducted at temperatures of 750, 950, 1100, and 1300 nif- F for periods of 500, 1000, 5000, and 10,000 hours. The results of these studies showed the commercial copper and Type 430 stainless steel to be compatible with stoichiometric boron carbide over the time and temperature ranges used. Type 304 stainless steel was shown to be compatible for 10,000 hours up to 1100 nif- F but not at 1300 nif- F. There was no reaction observed in the 4130 steel for 10,000 hours at 750 nif- F but a very hard reaction zone, which increased in width from 1 mil to 10 mils with increasing temperature from 950 to 1300 nif- F, was observed. The phase formed in the 4130 steel was identified to be primarily Fe/sub 2/B. The activation energy for the growth of this phase was calculated to be y from 92% to 6 38 kcal/mole. (auth)

• Research Organization: Atomics International. Div. of North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, Calif.
• DOE Contract Number: AT(11-1)-GEN-8
• NSA Number: NSA-17-018759
• OSTI ID: 4709900
• Report Number(s): NAA-SR-Memo-8055
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACTIVATION
BORON CARBIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTROL ELEMENTS
COPPER
DIFFUSION
ENERGY
HEAT TREATMENTS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HOT WORKING
IRON BORIDES
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
PHASE DIAGRAMS
PRESSURE
STAINLESS STEELS
STEELS
VACUUM