Effects of manufacturing process on impact properties and microstructures of ODS steels

Tanno, Takashi  ; Otsuka, Satoshi   ; Yano, Yasuhide  ; Kaito, Takeji ; Tanaka, Kenya

Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steels are noticed as an advanced alloy durable to high-temperature and high-dose neutron irradiation environment. Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 9-12Cr-ODS martensite steels have been developed as the primary candidate material for fast reactor fuel cladding tube. They would be also good candidates for fusion reactor blanket material. In this work, two types of 11Cr-ODS steels were manufactured: pre-mix and full pre-alloy ODS steels. Tensile tests, creep tests, 1/3 sized Charpy impact tests and metallurgical observations were carried out on these steels. The impact properties of full pre-alloy ODS steel was shown to be much superior than that of pre-mix ODS steels. It was demonstrated that the full pre-alloy process noticeably improved the microstructure homogeneity (i.e. reduction of inclusions and pores). The ductility of full pre-alloy ODS steels were better than that of pre-mix ODS steels.