Microstructure analysis of laser beam weldments performed on neutron-irradiated 304L steel containing 3 and 8 appm helium

Gussev, Maxim N.; Zhong, Weicheng; Garner, Francis A.; Freyer, Paula; Tatman, Jonanthan; Werden, Jesse W.

doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2022.153638

Title: Microstructure analysis of laser beam weldments performed on neutron-irradiated 304L steel containing 3 and 8 appm helium

Journal Article · 02 March 2022 · Journal of Nuclear Materials

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2022.153638 · OSTI ID:1855673

^[1];

^[1]; Garner, Francis A. ^[2]; Freyer, Paula ^[3]; Tatman, Jonanthan ^[4]; Werden, Jesse W. ^[1]

Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Radiation Effects Consulting, Richland, WA (United States)
Westinghouse Electric Company, Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
Electric Power Research Inst. (EPRI), Charlotte, NC (United States)

We report that AISI 304 L austenitic stainless steel is one of the major structural materials used in light water reactors (LWRs). In the future, 304 L components may require repair, and several welding techniques have been proposed as candidates. In this study, laser beam welding using the low-energy contribution approach was performed in ~2016 on neutron-irradiated AISI 304 L steel with nominal values of 3 and 8 appm helium (He). The goal was to investigate the impact of helium on the irradiated material weldability and evaluate helium-associated damage. The weld and heat-affected zone (HAZ) microstructure was studied using scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Analysis of the weldment cross-sections did not reveal severe cracking. Still, evidence of incipient helium-associated damage was observed in the HAZ, manifesting as degraded grain boundaries (GBs) “decorated” by pore chains and mostly small (i.e., ≤ 25-30 µm) scattered cracks. The largest observed crack was ~50 µm in length. Helium-associated damage was localized within ~200-300 µm of the weld pool boundary, and the fraction of the compromised GBs, as a rule, was below ~9-11% of the total GB network. TEM analysis showed significant annealing of the radiation-induced defects at distances up to ~300 µm from the weld pool boundary. Inside the HAZ, the cavities (likely, helium bubbles) tended to form at GBs and inclusions, such as manganese sulfide precipitates in the grain interior. Crystallography analysis of the HAZ damage showed that random high-angle boundaries were most susceptible to helium-associated damage. In contrast, low-angle random boundaries and twin boundaries appeared to be strongly resistant to degradation from the combined effects of helium and welding.

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Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 1855673

Journal Information:: Journal of Nuclear Materials, Journal Name: Journal of Nuclear Materials Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 563; ISSN 0022-3115

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
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Title: Microstructure analysis of laser beam weldments performed on neutron-irradiated 304L steel containing 3 and 8 appm helium

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