Microstructure evolution in pressurized creep tube specimens of neutron-irradiated ferritic/martensitic steels

Ando, Masami; Tanigawa, Hiroyasu; Li, M.*; Nakata, Toshiya; Stoller, R.*; Kono, Yutaka*

Irradiation creep of RAF/M steels has been recognized as one of the most important properties for engineering data due to the ITER test blanket structural design. The objective of this work is to examine an irradiation creep mechanism by using a microstructural observation in pressurized tubes of irradiated F82H and JLF-1. Irradiation was performed in the HFIR up to 5 dpa at 573 and 773 K. A small piece was cut from the center of each irradiated tube after diametral measurement. The microstructural examination with FIBed samples and replica films was carried out using a TEM. The creep strain for all steels at 573 and 773 K shows linear dependence on the applied hoop stress up to 250 MPa and 100 MPa, respectively. As results of extraction replica samples irradiated at 573 K, finer spherical precipitations were observed in highest hoop stress level. The detailed discussion will be presented along with the results of microstructure observation for irradiated specimens.