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Title: A review of irradiation effects on LWR core internal materials - IASCC susceptibility and crack growth rates of austenitic stainless steels.

Abstract

Austenitic stainless steels (SSs) are used extensively as structural alloys in the internal components of light water reactor (LWR) pressure vessels because of their relatively high strength, ductility, and fracture toughness. However, exposure to neutron irradiation for extended periods changes the microstructure (radiation hardening) and microchemistry (radiation-induced segregation) of these steels, and degrades their fracture properties. Irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) is another degradation process that affects LWR internal components exposed to neutron radiation. The existing data on irradiated austenitic SSs were reviewed to evaluate the effects of key parameters such as material composition, irradiation dose, and water chemistry on IASCC susceptibility and crack growth rates of these materials in LWR environments. The significance of microstructural and microchemistry changes in the material on IASCC susceptibility is also discussed. The results are used to determine (a) the threshold fluence for IASCC and (b) the disposition curves for cyclic and IASCC growth rates for irradiated SSs in LWR environments.

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USNRC
OSTI Identifier:
1005146
Report Number(s):
ANL/EVS/JA-67659
Journal ID: 0022-3115; TRN: US201105%%204
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC02-06CH11357
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
J. Nucl. Mater.
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 409; Journal Issue: Dec. 15, 2010
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; ALLOYS; CRACK PROPAGATION; DUCTILITY; FRACTURE PROPERTIES; HARDENING; IRRADIATION; MICROSTRUCTURE; NEUTRONS; PRESSURE VESSELS; SEGREGATION; STAINLESS STEELS; STEELS; STRESS CORROSION; WATER; WATER CHEMISTRY

Citation Formats

Chopra, O K, Roa, A S, Environmental Science Division, and NRC, U S. A review of irradiation effects on LWR core internal materials - IASCC susceptibility and crack growth rates of austenitic stainless steels.. United States: N. p., 2010. Web. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2010.12.001.
Chopra, O K, Roa, A S, Environmental Science Division, & NRC, U S. A review of irradiation effects on LWR core internal materials - IASCC susceptibility and crack growth rates of austenitic stainless steels.. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2010.12.001
Chopra, O K, Roa, A S, Environmental Science Division, and NRC, U S. 2010. "A review of irradiation effects on LWR core internal materials - IASCC susceptibility and crack growth rates of austenitic stainless steels.". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2010.12.001.
@article{osti_1005146,
title = {A review of irradiation effects on LWR core internal materials - IASCC susceptibility and crack growth rates of austenitic stainless steels.},
author = {Chopra, O K and Roa, A S and Environmental Science Division and NRC, U S},
abstractNote = {Austenitic stainless steels (SSs) are used extensively as structural alloys in the internal components of light water reactor (LWR) pressure vessels because of their relatively high strength, ductility, and fracture toughness. However, exposure to neutron irradiation for extended periods changes the microstructure (radiation hardening) and microchemistry (radiation-induced segregation) of these steels, and degrades their fracture properties. Irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) is another degradation process that affects LWR internal components exposed to neutron radiation. The existing data on irradiated austenitic SSs were reviewed to evaluate the effects of key parameters such as material composition, irradiation dose, and water chemistry on IASCC susceptibility and crack growth rates of these materials in LWR environments. The significance of microstructural and microchemistry changes in the material on IASCC susceptibility is also discussed. The results are used to determine (a) the threshold fluence for IASCC and (b) the disposition curves for cyclic and IASCC growth rates for irradiated SSs in LWR environments.},
doi = {10.1016/j.jnucmat.2010.12.001},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1005146}, journal = {J. Nucl. Mater.},
number = Dec. 15, 2010,
volume = 409,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2010},
month = {Wed Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2010}
}