Review of mechanical properties and microstructures of Types 304 and 316 stainless steel after long-term aging

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6270710

Horak, J A; Sikka, V K; Raske, D T

Because commercial liquid metal fast breeder reactors (LMFBRs) will be designed to last for 35 to 40 years, an understanding of the mechanical behavior of the structural alloys used is required for times of 2.2 to 2.5 x 10/sup 5/ h (assuming a 70% availability factor). Types 304 and 316 stainless steel are used extensively in LMFBR systems. These alloys are in a metastable state when installed and evolve to a more stable state and, therefore, microstructure during plant operation. Correlations of microstructures and mechanical properties during aging under representative LMFBR temperature and loading conditions is desirable from the standpoint of assuring safe, reliable, and economic plant operation. We reviewed the mechanical properties and microstructures of types 304 and 316 stainless steel wrought alloys, welds, and castings after long-term aging in air to 9 x 10/sup 4/ h (about 10-1/2 years). The principal effect of such aging is to reduce fracture toughness (as measured in Charpy impact tests) and tensile ductility. Examples are cited, however, where, because stable microstructures are achieved, these as well as strength-related properties can be expected to remain adequate for service life exposures. 27 figures.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA); Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6270710
• Report Number(s): CONF-8310198-6; ON: DE85000969
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210500 -- Power Reactors
Breeding
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360102 -- Metals & Alloys-- Structure & Phase Studies
360103* -- Metals & Alloys-- Mechanical Properties
AGING
ALLOYS
BREEDER REACTORS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CHROMIUM STEELS
CHROMIUM-NICKEL STEELS
CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
HEAT RESISTANT MATERIALS
HEAT RESISTING ALLOYS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
MATERIALS
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MICROSTRUCTURE
MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS
NICKEL ALLOYS
REACTORS
STAINLESS STEEL-304
STAINLESS STEEL-316
STAINLESS STEELS
STEELS
TENSILE PROPERTIES
TESTING