Irradiation-induced sensitization of austenitic stainless steel in-core components
High- and commercial-purity specimens of Type 304 SS from BWR absorber rod tubes, irradiated during service to fluence levels of 6 {times} 10{sup 20} to 2 {times} 10{sup 21} n{center dot}cm{sup {minus}2} (E > 1 MeV) in two reactors, were examined by Auger electron spectroscopy to characterize irradiation-induced grain boundary segregation and depletion of alloying and impurity elements, which have been associated with irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) of the steel. Ductile and intergranular fracture surfaces were produced by bending of hydrogen-charged specimens in the ultra-high vacuum of Auger microscope. The intergranular fracture surfaces in high-fluence commercial-purity material were characterized by relatively high levels of Si, P, and In segregation. An Auger energy peak at 59 eV indicated either segregation of an unidentified element or formation of an unidentified compound on the grain boundary. In contrast to the commercial-purity material, segregation of the impurity elements and intergranular failure in the high-purity material were negligible for a similar fluence level. However, grain boundary depletion of Cr was more significant in high-purity material than in commercial-purity material, which indicates that irradiation-induced segregation of impurity elements and depletion of alloying elements are interdependent. 7 refs., 10 figs., 2 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- NRC
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 6418001
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9010185-19; ON: DE91006454
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360106 -- Metals & Alloys-- Radiation Effects
ALLOYS
AUGER ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
AUSTENITIC STEELS
BWR TYPE REACTORS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CHROMIUM-NICKEL STEELS
CORROSION
CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
GRAIN BOUNDARIES
HEAT RESISTANT MATERIALS
HEAT RESISTING ALLOYS
HIGH ALLOY STEELS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
IRRADIATION
MATERIALS
MICROSTRUCTURE
NICKEL ALLOYS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
SEGREGATION
SENSITIVITY
SPECTROSCOPY
STAINLESS STEEL-304
STAINLESS STEELS
STEEL-CR19NI10
STEELS
STRESS CORROSION
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS