Irradiation effects on grain boundary chemistry of austenitic stainless steels

Technical Report · Tue Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:5283955

Bruemmer, S M; Charlot, L A; Arey, B W; Merz, M D ^[1]

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1. Battelle Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)

Parametric studies of radiation-induced segregation (RIS) at internal interfaces in austenitic stainless steels have been performed for the first time. The current approach analyzes ion-irradiated, microcrystalline materials and provides a statistical evaluation of irradiation effects on interfacial composition. Measurements document irradiation fluence and temperature effects on RIS. Grain boundary enrichment of nickel and silicon, and depletion of chromium, iron and molybdenum, are established after irradiation. Impurities such as phosphorus and sulfur were not detected even though phosphorus-doped stainless steels were examined. Results raise questions concerning the application of existing models to predict grain boundary segregation. A distinct boundary-to-boundary variation in microchemistry is observed which cannot be explained by traditional non-equilibrium segregation theory. Existing RIS theories are based on surface segregation measurements. No detailed studies of RIS to internal interfaces has been performed. The use of sputter-deposited microcrystalline materials and ion irradiation enables parametric studies of bulk behavior to be performed in a timely and inexpensive method. Detailed investigations of material and irradiation effects on RIS to, and precipitation at, internal interfaces are now possible.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Battelle Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: EPRI; Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5283955
• Report Number(s): EPRI-TR-100548
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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