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Measurement of carbon activity of sodium using nickel tabs and the Harwell Carbon Meter - Preliminary experience

Abstract

Carbon can have an important effect on the mechanical properties of certain constructional materials likely to be used in the LMFBRs. Transfer of carbon will occur between the metal and the sodium at any particular location to bring the chemical potential of carbon in both components to the sam: value. Thus, in a mixed system containing austenitic stainless steel and unstabilized ferritic steel, carbon could be transferred by the sodium from the high carbon activity ferritic to the lower activity austenitic steel. Loss of carbon from the unstabilized ferritic steel leads to a weaker, more ductile material, while carburization of the stainless steel could lead to its embrittlement. Similarly carbon entering the coolant in the form of oil from leaking mechanical pumps could have similar effects on the mechanical property of stainless steels. In the light of these possibilities it is essential to measure the carbon activity of the sodium so that its effect on materials properties can be predicted.
Authors:
Blundell, A; Thorley, A W [1] 
  1. UKAEA, Risley, Warrington, Cheshire (United Kingdom)
Publication Date:
May 01, 1980
Product Type:
Conference
Report Number:
IWGFR-33
Resource Relation:
Conference: IAEA-IWGFR specialists' meeting on carbon in sodium, Harwell (United Kingdom), 27-30 Nov 1979; Other Information: 6 refs, 5 figs, 1 tab; PBD: May 1980; Related Information: In: Specialists' meeting on carbon in sodium. Summary report, 194 pages.
Subject:
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; CARBON; CARBURIZATION; EMBRITTLEMENT; FERRITIC STEELS; LMFBR TYPE REACTORS; MECHANICAL PROPERTIES; REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS; REACTOR MATERIALS; SODIUM; STAINLESS STEELS
OSTI ID:
20244565
Research Organizations:
International Atomic Energy Agency, International Working Group on Fast Reactors, Vienna (Austria)
Country of Origin:
IAEA
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
TRN: XA0200953017269
Availability:
Available from INIS in electronic form
Submitting Site:
INIS
Size:
page(s) 117-121
Announcement Date:
May 16, 2002

Citation Formats

Blundell, A, and Thorley, A W. Measurement of carbon activity of sodium using nickel tabs and the Harwell Carbon Meter - Preliminary experience. IAEA: N. p., 1980. Web.
Blundell, A, & Thorley, A W. Measurement of carbon activity of sodium using nickel tabs and the Harwell Carbon Meter - Preliminary experience. IAEA.
Blundell, A, and Thorley, A W. 1980. "Measurement of carbon activity of sodium using nickel tabs and the Harwell Carbon Meter - Preliminary experience." IAEA.
@misc{etde_20244565,
title = {Measurement of carbon activity of sodium using nickel tabs and the Harwell Carbon Meter - Preliminary experience}
author = {Blundell, A, and Thorley, A W}
abstractNote = {Carbon can have an important effect on the mechanical properties of certain constructional materials likely to be used in the LMFBRs. Transfer of carbon will occur between the metal and the sodium at any particular location to bring the chemical potential of carbon in both components to the sam: value. Thus, in a mixed system containing austenitic stainless steel and unstabilized ferritic steel, carbon could be transferred by the sodium from the high carbon activity ferritic to the lower activity austenitic steel. Loss of carbon from the unstabilized ferritic steel leads to a weaker, more ductile material, while carburization of the stainless steel could lead to its embrittlement. Similarly carbon entering the coolant in the form of oil from leaking mechanical pumps could have similar effects on the mechanical property of stainless steels. In the light of these possibilities it is essential to measure the carbon activity of the sodium so that its effect on materials properties can be predicted.}
place = {IAEA}
year = {1980}
month = {May}
}