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Microstructural design of PCA austenitic stainless steel for improved resistance to helium embrittlement under HFIR irradiation

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6364606

Several variants of Prime Candidate Alloy (PCA) with different preirradiation thermal-mechanical treatments were irradiated in HFIR and were evaluated for embrittlement resistance via disk-bend tensile testing. Comparison tests were made on two heats of 20%-cold-worked type 316 stainless steel. None of the alloys were brittle after irradiation at 300 to 400/sup 0/C to approx. 44 dpa and helium levels of 3000 to approx.3600 at. ppm. However, all were quite brittle after similar exposure at 600/sup 0/C. Embrittlement varied with alloy and pretreatment for irradiation to 44 dpa at 500/sup 0/C and to 22 dpa at 600/sup 0/C. Better relative embrittlement resistance among PCA variants was found in alloys which contained prior grain boundary MC carbide particles that remained stable under irradiation.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
6364606
Report Number(s):
CONF-830942-92; ON: DE85000914
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English