Effects of -ray irradiation on the high temperature oxidation of austenitic stainless steel in supercritical water

Nakahara, Yukio ; Yamamoto, Masahiro ; Karasawa, Hidetoshi*; Kiuchi, Kiyoshi; Katsumura, Yosuke*

Three types of commercial-grade austenitic stainless steel, Type 304L, Type 316L, and Type 310S, were immersed in deaerated supercritical water (SCW) of 25 MPa, 550 C with -ray irradiation for 1000 hours in total. Absorbed dose rates in SCW are estimated at 5-15 kGy h. High temperature oxidation experiments resulted in the formation of two-layer oxide film in which the outer layer is porous iron oxide and the inner layer is dense iron-chromium-nickel oxide. Rate constants of parabolic rate law in net weight gains of Type 304L SS and Type 310S SS are decreased as the -ray exposure rate is increased. The net weight gain of -ray irradiated Type 316L SS is sharply fluctuating and decreasing, because the flaking of the outer layer occurred. Hematite is formed in the outer layer on all irradiated samples of examined alloys. The concentration of chromium on the surface is increased by -ray irradiation. A chromium-rich part in the inner layer accompanying a nickel-rich part in the metal is formed along to the oxide/metal interface of -ray irradiated Type 304L SS, non-irradiated and -ray irradiated Type 316L SS.