Swelling and mechanical property changes in neutron-irradiated cold-rolled type 316 stainless steel

Samples of cold-rolled Type 316 stainless steel were irradiated in EBR- II to a fluence of about 8 x 10$sup 26$ n/m$sup 2$ (E greater than 0.1 MeV) at 500 and 600$sup 0$C. Three sample configurations were used--small sheet tensile samples, small right-circular cylinders for immersion density, and thin foils for transmission-electron microscopy (TEM). TEM revealed voids in the foils irradiated at both temperatures. Immersion density results, however, indicated swelling only in the sample irradiated at 600$sup 0$C. Considerable recovery and precipitation were observed in foils irradiated at both temperatures. Results of tensile tests on irradiated samples showed a decrease in yield strength and an increase in ductility compared to unirradiated controls. (auth