BWR water chemistry impurity studies
- ABB Atom AB, Vaesteraas (Sweden)
Laboratory studies were made on the effect of water impurities on environmental cracking in simulated BWR water of stainless steel, low alloy steel and nickel-base alloys. Constant elongation rate tensile (CERT) tests were run in simulated normal water chemistry (NWC), hydrogen water chemistry (HWC), or start-up environment. Sulfate, chloride and copper with chloride added to the water at levels of a fraction of a ppM were found to be extremely deleterious to all kinds of materials except Type 316 NG. Other detrimental impurities were fluoride, silica and some organic acids, although acetic acid was beneficial. Nitrate and carbon dioxide were fairly inoccuous. Corrosion fatigue and constant load tests on compact tension specimens were run in simulated normal BWR water chemistry (NWC) or hydrogen water chemistry (HWC), without impurities or with added sulfate or carbon dioxide. For sensitized Type 304 SS in NWC, 0.1 ppM sulfate increased crack propagation rates in constant load tests by up to a factor of 100, and in fatigue tests up to a factor of 10. Also, cracking in Type 316 nuclear grade SS and Alloy 600 was enhanced, but to a smaller degree. Carbon dioxide was less detrimental than sulfate. 3 figs., 4 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (USA); ABB Atom AB, Vaesteraas (Sweden)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- EPRI
- OSTI ID:
- 7050158
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-NP-6773-M
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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ALLOYS
BWR TYPE REACTORS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
COOLING SYSTEMS
CORROSION
CRACK PROPAGATION
CRACKS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENERGY TRANSFER
FAILURE MODE ANALYSIS
FLUID MECHANICS
FRACTURE MECHANICS
HEAT TRANSFER
HIGH ALLOY STEELS
HYDRAULICS
IMPURITIES
INTERGRANULAR CORROSION
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MATERIALS TESTING
MEASURING METHODS
MECHANICS
MICROSTRUCTURE
NICKEL ALLOYS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PIPES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTORS
RECOMMENDATIONS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SAFETY
SAMPLING
SENSITIVITY
STAINLESS STEELS
STEELS
STRESS CORROSION
SYSTEM FAILURE ANALYSIS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
TESTING
THERMODYNAMICS
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS