Effect of neutron irradiation on the mechanical properties of weld overlay cladding for reactor pressure vessel

Tobita, Toru; Udagawa, Makoto; Chimi, Yasuhiro; Nishiyama, Yutaka ; Onizawa, Kunio 

To investigate the changes in the mechanical properties of cladding materials irradiated with high neutron fluence, two types of cladding materials were fabricated using the submerged-arc welding and electroslag welding methods. The tensile tests, Charpy impact tests and fracture toughness tests were conducted before and after neutron irradiation with a fluence of 10 n/cm at 290 C. With neutron irradiation, the yield strength and ultimate strength increased, and the total elongation decreased. The Charpy upper-shelf energy was reduced and the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature was increased with neutron irradiation. There was no obvious decrease in the elastic-plastic fracture toughness (J) of the cladding materials at high neutron fluence. The tearing modulus decreased with neutron irradiation, and considerable low J values were observed at high temperatures submerged-arc-welded cladding materials.