Helium production in stainless steel
It is well established that helium formed in stainless steel by various (n,..cap alpha..) processes has a pronounced effect on its mechanical and dimensional properties. The anomalous production of helium in nickel-based alloys is known to take place via the two-step process: /sup 58/Ni(n,..gamma..)/sup 59/Ni(n,..cap alpha..)/sup 56/Fe. For thermal neutrons, the /sup 59/Ni(n,..cap alpha..)/sup 56/Fe cross section used to calculate the helium production differs strongly from the value obtained by the direct measurements of this cross section. In this note, this discrepancy is discussed, and a value of 12.5 +- 1 b based on direct measurements is recommended for future calculations. For fast neutrons, the contribution due to the two-step process has been ignored in the past. It is demonstrated that this contribution is substantial, and it gains in importance as the neutron fluence increases. It is further shown that the usual practice to relate helium production data to thermal- and fast-neutron fluence is inadequate. The details of the neutron spectrum and the cross section are necessary to reliably predict the helium production rate.
- Research Organization:
- Gesellschaft fuer Kernforschung mbH, Karlsruhe, Germany
- OSTI ID:
- 6017615
- Journal Information:
- Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States), Vol. 69:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
REACTOR MATERIALS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
STAINLESS STEELS
FAST NEUTRONS
HELIUM
NEUTRON REACTIONS
NUCLEAR REACTION YIELD
POWER REACTORS
PRODUCTION
THERMAL NEUTRONS
ALLOYS
BARYON REACTIONS
BARYONS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
FERMIONS
FLUIDS
HADRON REACTIONS
HADRONS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
NEUTRONS
NONMETALS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEON REACTIONS
NUCLEONS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RARE GASES
REACTORS
STEELS
YIELDS
220200* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Components & Accessories
360106 - Metals & Alloys- Radiation Effects