Fatigue-crack propagation response of two nickel-base alloys in a liquid sodium environment
The elevated temperature fatigue-crack propagation response of Inconel 600 and Inconel 718 was characterized within a linear-elastic fracture mechanics framework in air and low-oxygen liquid sodium environments. The crack growth rates of both nickel-base alloys tested in liquid sodium were found to be considerably lower than those obtained in air. This enhanced fatigue resistance in sodium was attributed to the very low oxygen content in the inert sodium environment. Electron fractographic examination of the Inconel 600 and Inconel 718 fatigue fracture surfaces revealed that operative crack growth mechanisms were dependent on the prevailing stress intensity level. Under low growth rate conditions, Inconel 600 and Inconel 718 fracture surfaces exhibited a faceted, crystallographic morphology in both air and sodium environments. In the higher growth rate regime, fatigue striations were observed; however, striations formed in sodium were rather ill-defined. These indistinct striations were attributed to the absence of oxygen in the liquid sodium environment. Striation spacing measurements were found to be in excellent agreement with macroscopic growth rates in both environments.
- Research Organization:
- Hanford Engineering Development Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-14-2170
- OSTI ID:
- 6104106
- Report Number(s):
- HEDL-SA-1750; CONF-790615-20; TRN: 79-018463
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 3. US national congress on pressure vessels and piping, San Francisco, CA, USA, 25 Jun 1979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
INCONEL 600
CRACKS
FATIGUE
INCONEL 718
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR MATERIALS
AGING
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
ENVIRONMENT
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
HEAT TREATMENTS
MORPHOLOGY
OXYGEN
SODIUM
SURFACES
THERMAL CYCLING
ALKALI METALS
ALLOYS
BREEDER REACTORS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FLUIDS
INCONEL ALLOYS
IRON ALLOYS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALS
MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS
NICKEL ALLOYS
NICKEL BASE ALLOYS
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
NONMETALS
REACTORS
360103* - Metals & Alloys- Mechanical Properties
210500 - Power Reactors
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