Effect of neutron irradiation on the microstructure of the stainless steel electroslag weld overlay cladding of nuclear reactor pressure vessels

Takeuchi, Tomoaki   ; Kakubo, Yuta*; Matsukawa, Yoshitaka*; Nozawa, Yasuko*; Nagai, Yasuyoshi*; Nishiyama, Yutaka ; Katsuyama, Jinya  ; Onizawa, Kunio ; Suzuki, Masahide

Investigation on irradiation effects of weld-overlay claddings is necessary for safety assessment of reactor pressure vessels. We investigated microstructural changes in the cladding, which was composed of about 90% austenite and 10% -ferrite phases, subjected to the neutron irradiation to 7.210 n/cm at 290C, by 3D atom probe tomography technique. In the ferrite phase, the amplitude of the Cr and Si concentration fluctuation was increased by the irradiation and Ni and Mn concentration fluctuations were newly occurred. In the austenite phase, '(NiSi) -like clusters were formed. In contrast, the results of our previous work on the cladding subjected to thermal aging showed the amplitude of the Cr fluctuation was significantly increased and G (Ni-Si-Mn) phase was formed in the ferrite phase. Moreover, no changes were observed in the austenite by the aging.