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Temperature dependence of swelling in Type 316 stainless steel irradiated in HFIR (High Flux Isotope Reactor)

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5997346

The temperature dependence of swelling was investigated in solution-annealed (SA) and 20% cold-worked (CW) type 316 stainless steel irradiated to 30 dpa at 300 to 600/sup 0/C in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR). At irradiation temperatures less than or equal to 400/sup 0/C, a high concentration (2 to 4 x 10/sup 23/ m/sup -3/) of small bubbles (1.5 to 4.5 nm diam) formed uniformly in the matrix. Swelling was low (<0.2%) in both SA and CW materials irradiated to 30 dpa. In the SA 316, cavity size increased but the number density decreased with increasing irradiation temperature above 500/sup 0/C. At 500/sup 0/C, there was a mixture of bubbles and voids, but at 600/sup 0/C, most of the cavities were voids. Maximum swelling (approx.5%) occurred at 500/sup 0/C. By contrast, cavities in 20% CW specimens were much smaller, with diameters of 6 and 9 nm at 500 and 600/sup 0/C, respectively, suggesting that they were primarily bubbles. The cavity number density in the CW 316 at both 500 and 600/sup 0/C (approx.1 x 10/sup 22/ m/sup -3/) was about one order of magnitude less than at 400/sup 0/C. Swelling increased slightly as irradiation temperature increased, peaking at 600/sup 0/C (0.3%). These results indicate that SA 316 swells more than CW 316 at 500 and 600/sup 0/C, but both SA and CW 316 are resistant to void swelling in HFIR at 400/sup 0/C and below to 30 dpa. 15 refs.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA); Japan Atomic Energy Research Inst., Tokai, Ibaraki
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
5997346
Report Number(s):
CONF-871036-11; ON: DE88000387
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English