Elevated-Temperature Ferritic and Martensitic Steels and Their Application to Future Nuclear Reactors

Technical Report · Mon Jan 31 04:00:00 EST 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/885938· OSTI ID:885938

Klueh, RL

In the 1970s, high-chromium (9-12% Cr) ferritic/martensitic steels became candidates for elevated-temperature applications in the core of fast reactors. Steels developed for conventional power plants, such as Sandvik HT9, a nominally Fe-12Cr-1Mo-0.5W-0.5Ni-0.25V-0.2C steel (composition in wt %), were considered in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Now, a new generation of fission reactors is in the planning stage, and ferritic, bainitic, and martensitic steels are again candidates for in-core and out-of-core applications. Since the 1970s, advances have been made in developing steels with 2-12% Cr for conventional power plants that are significant improvements over steels originally considered. This paper will review the development of the new steels to illustrate the advantages they offer for the new reactor concepts. Elevated-temperature mechanical properties will be emphasized. Effects of alloying additions on long-time thermal exposure with and without stress (creep) will be examined. Information on neutron radiation effects will be discussed as it applies to ferritic and martensitic steels.

• Research Organization: ORNL
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 885938
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-2004/176
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CREEP
FAST REACTORS
FISSION
MARTENSITIC STEELS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
NEUTRONS
PLANNING
POWER PLANTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTORS
STEELS