CHARACTERIZATION OF IRRADIATED MODEL PRESSURE VESSEL STEELS

The microstructure of model pressure vessel steels has been characterized after neutron irradiation and thermal aging by atom probe field-ion microscopy. A high density of small, roughly spherical or disc shaped copper clusters/precipitates were observed in the neutron irradiated alloys that contained copper. Small spherical phosphorus clusters were observed in the irradiated copper-free alloys, and copper phosphides were observed in a high phosphorus Fe-Cu-Ni-P alloy. None of these clusters/precipitates were observed in the thermally aged materials. The increases in the tensile and yield strengths that were observed after neutron irradiation resulted from the formation of these clusters and other lattice defects

Tensile Property of Low Activation Vanadium Alloy after Liquid Lithium Exposure

"A candidate low activation vanadium (V) alloy, V-4Cr-4Ti (NIFS-HEAT-2), was exposed to liquid lithium (Li) at 973 and 1073 K for up to 1963 hr. Contamination by carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) from the Li on the order of thousands of wppm were observed. Oxygen (O) levels were reduced to the several 10 wppm level by Li exposure at 1073 K, but not at 973 K. The Li exposure caused strength degradation as measured by tensile tests at 973 and 1073 K. On the other hand, good ductility was demonstrated after the Li exposure even with the significant contamination of C and N. From microstructural observations, C and N are likely to be scavenged by Ti-C-N type precipitates. Reduction of O was attributed to disappearance of Ti-C-O type precipitates.

Effect of bulk oxygen on 14YWT nanostructured ferritic alloys

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