Effects of fast reactor irradiation conditions on tensile and transient burst properties of ferritic/martensitic steel claddings

Yano, Yasuhide  ; Yoshitake, Tsunemitsu ; Yamashita, Shinichiro   ; Akasaka, Naoaki; Onose, Shoji ; Watanabe, Seiichi*; Takahashi, Heishichiro

The effects of fast neutron irradiation have been investigated on the mechanical properties of 11Cr-0.5Mo-2W, Nb, V ferritic/martensitic (F/M) stainless steel (PNC-FMS) and 10.5Cr-1.5Mo, Nb, V F/M stainless steel (HT9M) claddings, especially tensile and transient burst properties. These two F/M claddings were irradiated in the experimental fast reactor JOYO using the PFB090 fuel test assembly. Post irradiation tensile and temperature-transient-to-burst tests were carried out for defueled cladding specimens. The results of mechanical tests for PNC-FMS cladding showed that there was no significant degradation in tensile and transient burst strengths even after fast neutron irradiation. However, these strengths for HT9M cladding tended to shift to lower values than those of as-received specimens. This different behavior of tensile and transient burst strengths was attributed to martensite structural stability which was related to the stable solid solution elements.