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Fracture toughness of irradiated wrought and cast austenitic stainless steels in BWR environment.

Conference ·
OSTI ID:982624

In light water reactors, austenitic stainless steels (SSs) are used extensively as structural alloys in reactor core internal components because of their high strength, ductility, and fracture toughness. Exposure to high levels of neutron irradiation for extended periods degrades the fracture properties of these steels by changing the material microstructure (e.g., radiation hardening) and microchemistry (e.g., radiation-induced segregation). We look at the results of a study of simulated light-water reactor coolants, material chemistry, and irradiation damage and their effects on the susceptibility to stress-corrosion cracking of various commercially available and laboratory-melted stainless steels.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
Sponsoring Organization:
NRC
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
982624
Report Number(s):
ANL/NE/CP-59818
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH