Microstructural Study of High Irradiated Reactor Steels

Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy (PAS) techniques in combination with other techniques were effectively used in the testing and selection process of optimal reactor steels for use in Generation III and IV reactors or thermonuclear fusion facilities. Conventional PAS lifetime technique and pulsed low energy positron system were applied on wide spectrum of reactor steels together with other techniques viz., Transmission Electron Microscopy and Mossbauer Spectroscopy focused on the role of Nickel in the steel microstructure. Experimental experiences in this area collected over the last twenty years were very useful in the actual study by avoiding many mistakes in handling with specimens or in careful interpretation of the results.JRC.F.4-Nuclear Reactor Integrity Assessment and Knowledge Managemen

PALS Investigation of Chromium Effect in Ferritic/Martensitic Steels Implanted with Helium

Chromium is an element with significant effect on the elevated temperature corrosion resistance and the low radiation induced void swelling. There were several studies carried out with regard to effect of Cr on the defect creation and stability [1, 2], but this issue is not fully understood yet. This paper contributes to this research with the study of Fe-Cr binary alloys with different Cr content, implanted by helium by the use of cascade accelerator and investigated by conventional PALS set-up. Our measurements show that chromium plays a role in the formation of small vacancy clusters, affecting the size and distribution of these defects.JRC.F.4-Nuclear Reactor Integrity Assessment and Knowledge Managemen

Fe-Cr Alloys Behaviour after Helium Implantation

The paper discusses our recent experiments focused on the chromium influence on the microstructural changes of iron based alloys under radiation treatment. Our experimental method ¿ the positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) enables an observation of size and density changes of the vacancy type defects in the material microstructure. These defects have been created by implantation of charged particles (He2+). The cascade collisions in the crystal lattice and following Frenkel pair creation have been considered as possible approximation of the neutron flux damage up to 100 dpa in the region up to 1 micrometer from the surface.JRC.F.4-Safety of future nuclear reactor

Evaluation of the Role of Cr, Ni, Mn and Si Si in Reactor Pressure Vessel Steel

In this paper we report initial results from a study focused on investigation of the role of elements as Cr, Ni, Mn and Si in the radiation stability of reactor pressure vessel steels. Twelve model ferritic steels with basic composition derivated from Russian WWER-1000 and Western PWR reactor pressure vessel materials were studied by Charpy-V impact, magnetic Barkhausen noise, Vickers hardness tests, Relative Seebeck Coefficient measurements and Positron annihilation spectroscopy. Higher Cr content in model steels was found generally to give increased root mean square values independent of Mn and Si contents. The ductile¿brittle transition temperatures and hardness values of the model steels were found to be independent of composition. The correlation between ductile¿brittle transition temperatures and hardness values has potential for prompt determination of the effect of composition and irradiation on the steel properties. The next stage of the assessment will study the effect of irradiation of the model steels to accumulated neutron fluences of 10e19 n.cm-2.JRC.DDG.F.4-Safety of future nuclear reactor

Positron annihilation studies of Eurofer97/ODS steels after helium ion implantation

The paper briefly reviews our positron annihilation studies performed on Eurofer97 steel and its ODS variant, performed in the last about 20 years. Various aspects of radiation environments foreseen for these materials were experimentally simulated via ion implantation and studied by a combination of non-destructive characterization techniques. The primary characterization tools in these studies were two techniques based on positron annihilation, namely positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and Coincidence Doppler Broadening (CDB) technique. In addition to bulk studies utilizing conventional radioisotope positron sources, ion-implanted specimens were analysed using slow positron beams. This review summarizes the key findings of these techniques concerning the nature of the radiation resistance of EUROFER/ODS steels

Positron Annihilation Study of RPV Steels Radiation Loaded by Hydrogen Ion Implantation

Specimens of 15Kh2MFAA steel used for reactor pressure vessels V-213 (VVER-440 reactor) were studied by positron annihilation techniques in terms of their radiation resistance and structural recovery after thermal treatment. The radiation load was simulated by experimental implantation of 500 keV H+ ions. The maximum radiation damage of 1 DPA was obtained across a region of 3 µm. Radiation-induced defects were investigated by coincidence Doppler broadening spectroscopy and positron lifetime spectroscopy using a conventional positron source as well as a slow positron beam. All techniques registered an accumulation of small open-volume defects (mostly mono- and di-vacancies) due to the irradiation, with an increase of the defect volume ΔVD ≈ 2.88 × 10−8 cm−3. Finally, the irradiated specimens were gradually annealed at temperatures from 200 to 550 °C and analyzed in detail. The best defect recovery was found at a temperature between 450 and 475 °C, but the final defect concentration of about ΔCD = 0.34 ppm was still higher than in the as-received specimens

Non-destructive Examination of Helium Implanted HTRs Construction Materials

High chromium steels belong to the most prospective materials for reactor pressure vessel of High Temperature Reactors as well as for more components used in GEN IV facilities. Radiation resistance of GEN IV materials is a significant attribute. Therefore the process of microstructure deterioration due to irradiation followed by degradation of mechanical properties must be consistently investigated. This paper is focused on microstructure study of 9% chromium steels (T91, P91) and observation of residual stress as well as open volume defect accumulation after helium ion implantation performed at room temperature. Helium ion implantation should simulate changes of structure due to knocking-out of atoms during neutron irradiation. Investigated materials were studied by non-destructive experimental techniques based on the positron annihilation in the matter (Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy, Doppler Broadening Spectroscopy) and magnetic properties of iron alloys (Magnetic Barkhausen Noise Measurement). Results indicate higher resistance of T91 to defect formation during implantation than P91, although T91 shows higher residual stress in microstructure prior to implantation.JRC.F.4-Nuclear Reactor Integrity Assessment and Knowledge Managemen

Thermal Annealing Influence on Ions Implanted Fe-Cr Model Alloys

Binary Fe-11.62wt%Cr alloys were investigated in as-received state as well as after a two step helium ion implantation at different energies (100 keV and 250 keV) with doses up to 3.12xl018 cm-2. In order to study changes in alloys in dependence on the temperature, thermal annealing was performed at temperatures of 400, 475, 525 and 600 °C and specimens were afterwards measured by a pulsed low energy positron system (PLEPS). Annealing out of defects at lower temperatures was not as significant as expected, and we also encountered difficulties with defect identification. However, an apparent decrease of defect size was observed in the specimen annealed at a temperature of 600 °C.JRC.F.4-Nuclear Reactor Integrity Assessment and Knowledge Managemen

Different chromium content and thermal annealing influence on ions implanted Fe-Cr model alloys

Reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steels (RAFM) represented by binary Fe-Cr alloys, with different chromium content, were studied in as-received state as well as after helium ions implantation. In order to study changes in dependence on the temperature, thermal annealing of He ions implanted Fe-11.62%Cr specimens was performed. Measurements by Pulsed Low Energy Positron System (PLEPS) in Garching, Germany were performed afterwards. Annealing out of defects at lower temperatures was not significant as was expected and some uncertainties are present. Extensive decrease of positron lifetime of defects was observed in specimens annealed at temperature 600 ºC.JRC.F.4-Nuclear Reactor Integrity Assessment and Knowledge Managemen