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

Cast stainless steel aging: Mechanisms and predictions

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5375429
Charpy-impact and J-R curve data are presented for several experimental and commercial heats, as well as for reactor-aged material of CF-3, CF-8, and CF-8M grades of cast stainless steel. The effects of material variables on the embrittlement of cast stainless steels are evaluated. In general, the low carbon CF-3 grades of cast stainless steels are the most resistance and molybdenum-containing high-carbon CF-8M grades are the most susceptible to low-temperature embrittlement. The ferrite morphology has a strong effect on the extent or degree of embrittlement, while material composition influences the kinetics of embrittlement. The kinetics of embrittlement can vary significantly with small changes in the constituent elements of the cast material. The mechanisms of embrittlement have also been established. Mechanical property data have been analyzed to develop the procedure and correlations for predicting the kinetics and extent of embrittlement of reactor components from known material parameters. The method and examples of estimating the impact strength and fracture toughness of cast components during reactor service are described. The lower-bound values of impact strength and fracture toughness for cast stainless steels at LWR operating temperatures are defined. 30 refs., 17 figs., 3 tabs.
Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
NRC
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
5375429
Report Number(s):
CONF-8910222-9; ON: DE90003772
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English