Tensile properties of modified 316 stainless steel (PNC316) after neutron irradiation over 100 dpa

Yano, Yasuhide; Uwaba, Tomoyuki; Tanno, Takashi; Yoshitake, Tsunemitsu; Otsuka, Satoshi; Kaito, Takeji

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 9 Pages, 2023/00

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2023.2243943

The effects of fast neutron irradiation on tensile properties of modified 316 stainless steel (PNC316) claddings and wrappers for fast reactors were investigated. PNC316 claddings and wrappers were irradiated in the experimental fast reactor Joyo at irradiation temperatures between 400 and 735 C to fast neutron doses ranging from 21 to 125 dpa. The post-irradiation tensile tests were carried out at room and irradiation temperatures. Elongations of PNC316 measured by the tensile tests were maintained at an engineering level, although the material incurred significant irradiation hardening and softening. The maximum swelling of PNC316 wrappers was about 2.5 vol.% at irradiation temperature between 400 and 500C up to 110 dpa. Japanese 20% cold-worked austenitic steels, PNC316 and 15Cr-20Ni, had sufficient ductility and work-hardenability even after above 10 vol.% swelling, while they had very weak plastic instabilities.

Activities of Working Group on Verification of PASCAL; Fiscal years 2016 and 2017

Li, Y.; Hirota, Takatoshi*; Itabashi, Yu*; Yamamoto, Masato*; Kanto, Yasuhiro*; Suzuki, Masahide*; Miyamoto, Yuhei*

JAEA-Review 2020-011, 130 Pages, 2020/09

JAEA-Review-2020-011.pdf:9.31MB

For the improvement of the structural integrity assessment methodology on reactor pressure vessels (RPVs), the probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM) analysis code PASCAL has been developed and improved in Japan Atomic Energy Agency based on the latest knowledge. The PASCAL code evaluates the failure probabilities and frequencies of Japanese RPVs under transient events such as pressure thermal shock considering neutron irradiation embrittlement. In order to confirm the reliability of the PASCAL as a domestic standard code and to promote the application of PFM on the domestic structural integrity assessments of RPVs, it is important to perform verification activities, and summarize the verification processes and results as a document. On the basis of these backgrounds, we established a working group, composed of experts on this field besides the developers, on the verification of the PASCAL module and the source program of PASCAL was released to the members of working group. This report summarizes the activities of the working group on the verification of PASCAL in FY2016 and FY2017.

Experimental validation of tensile properties measured with thick samples taken from MEGAPIE target

Saito, Shigeru; Suzuki, Kazuhiro; Hatakeyama, Yuichi; Suzuki, Miho; Dai, Y.*

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 534, p.152146_1 - 152146_16, 2020/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2020.152146

A post-irradiation examination (PIE) was performed on the tensile specimens prepared from the MEGAPIE (MEGAwatt Pilot Experiment) target which were irradiated in flowing lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE). Thicknesses of the specimens were over two times larger than that of the standard specimen. The PIE revealed that the T91 specimens showed a 1.5-2.0 times larger total elongation (TE) compared to the literature values for a specimen with standard t/w (ratio of thickness to width). It could be suggested that the t/w and TE were strongly correlated. Then, we tried to investigate the effects of the t/w on the TE by comparing unirradiated specimens. We found that there was no t/w dependence on the strength and uniform elongation. On the other hand, the TE increases with increasing t/w. Based on the experimental data, we correlated the TE with various specimens t/w to estimate appropriate TE values, including that for the standard specimen.

Structural change of borosilicate glass by neutron irradiation

Nagai, Takayuki; Kobayashi, Hidekazu; Okamoto, Yoshihiro; Akiyama, Daisuke*; Sato, Nobuaki*; Uehara, Akihiro*; Fujii, Toshiyuki*; Sekimoto, Shun*

KURNS Progress Report 2018, P. 105, 2019/08

https://www.rri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/PUB/report/PR/ProgRep2018/KURNS_Progress_Report2018_web.pdf

To understand this structural change of a borosilicate glass by a neutron irradiation in detail, the irradiation test was carried out in KUR in 2017FY. The glass structure was estimated by using Raman spectrometry in 2018FY. Comparing with the Raman spectra of glass samples before and after irradiation, it could be observed the change of peak height of Si-O bridging structure by the irradiation.

Empirical equations for tensile properties and stress-strain curves of neutron irradiated stainless steels in LWR conditions

Fukuya, Koji*; Fujii, Katsuhiko*; Chimi, Yasuhiro; Hata, Kuniki

Proceedings of 19th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems - Water Reactors (Internet), p.523 - 531, 2019/08

For structural integrity assessment on reactor internals of light water reactors, empirical equations of tensile properties as a function of neutron dose, and trend curves of stress-strain relations of neutron-irradiated austenitic stainless steels was proposed by fitting to recently developed database. The data in the database were obtained from reports of national projects in Japan and open literature, which was summarized in the form of data sheets. The empirical equations for tensile properties were formulated by using a saturation-type formulae. The equations were for CW 316 and SA 304/316 stainless steels in the temperature range of 280-350C and the dose range up to 80 dpa. Stress-strain relation curves were reproduced based on the Swift model. Obtained calculated results by the empirical equations and stress-strain relations were reasonably well fitted to experimental data. The effects of composition and cold-working, etc. on tensile properties were discussed.

Effect of nickel concentration on radiation-induced diffusion of point defects in high-nickel Fe-Cr-Ni model alloys during neutron and electron irradiation

Sekio, Yoshihiro; Sakaguchi, Norihito*

Materials Transactions, 60(5), p.678 - 687, 2019/05

https://doi.org/10.2320/matertrans.MC201811

The quantitative evaluation of vacancy migration energies in high nickel model alloy was conducted by analyzing the void denuded zone (VDZ) width formed near grain boundaries under neutron and electron irradiation. The microstructures of Fe-15Cr-xNi (x=15, 20, 25, 30 mass%) alloys that were neutron irradiated at 749 K and electron irradiated at 576 K-824 K were examined. The VDZ widths increased with increasing Ni content in both irradiation experiments, which implies an increase of the vacancy mobility. The vacancy migration energies were estimated from the temperature dependence of the VDZ widths, and the energies were 1.09, 0.97, 0.90, and 0.77 eV for the alloys containing 15, 20, 25, and 30 mass% Ni, respectively. From the obtained energies, the effective vacancy diffusivity and excess vacancy concentration were estimated using the analytical equation of the VDZ width, which quantitatively confirmed the increase of the vacancy mobility with increasing Ni content.

Data survey and compilation of material property tables of irradiated stainless steel for evaluation of radiation effects on structural material properties of core internals in boiling water reactors (Contract research)

Kasahara, Shigeki; Fukuya, Koji*; Koshiishi, Masato*; Fujii, Katsuhiko*; Chimi, Yasuhiro

JAEA-Review 2018-012, 180 Pages, 2018/11

JAEA-Review-2018-012.pdf:10.71MB

For structural integrity assessment of reactor internals of light water reactors, it is important to evaluate and predict the property changes of structural materials, based on existing data obtained from austenitic stainless steel irradiated with neutrons. Compilation of the data into tables is valuable for discussing the representative or the most probable values of the properties applied to the assessment. In the process of the data compilation, the data must be distinguished clearly in consideration of different service conditions of core internals of boiling water reactors (BWR) and pressurized water reactors. Main objective of this work is to provide material property tables of irradiated austenitic stainless steel which will be applicable for assessment of structural integrity of core internals of BWRs. To compile the table, published literature reporting irradiated stainless steel data were surveyed and screened by considering the service conditions of BWRs. In addition to the data, various parameters for the data evaluation, e.g. chemical compositions and pre-treatments of the materials, irradiation and examination conditions, were extracted from the literature, and listed into the tables.

Study on magnetic property change on neutron irradiated austenitic stainless steel

Nemoto, Yoshiyuki; Oishi, Makoto; Ito, Masayasu; Kaji, Yoshiyuki; Keyakida, Satoshi*

Hozengaku, 14(4), p.83 - 90, 2016/01

Authors previously reported that magnetic data obtained by using Eddy current method and AC magnetization method showed correlation with the increase of susceptibility of the irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) on neutron irradiated austenitic stainless alloy specimens. To discuss the mechanism of the correlation, microstructure observation was conducted on the irradiated specimen, and magnetic permalloy phase (FeNi) formation along grain boundary was revealed in this work. From this result, the radiation induced magnetic phase formation along grain boundary seems to be a factor of the magnetic property change of the irradiated materials, and related to the correlation between magnetic data and IASCC susceptibility. In addition, sensor probe development was conducted in this work to obtain higher sensitivity and resolution. It was applied for magnetic measurement on type304 stainless steel irradiated up to different doses. In this case, magnetic ferrite phase was existed in the type304 stainless steel sample before irradiation therefore it was concerned that magnetic measurement on the irradiated ones would be disturbed by the magnetic signal from the pre-existing ferrite phase. In the magnetic measurements, increase of the magnetic data was clearly seen on the irradiated specimens. Thus, it was thought that the developed magnetic measurement technics can be applied for the irradiated austenite stainless steels which contain certain quantity of ferrite phase before irradiation.

Neutron irradiation effect of high-density MoO pellets for Mo-99 production, 2

Nishikata, Kaori; Ishida, Takuya; Yonekawa, Minoru; Kato, Yoshiaki; Kurosawa, Makoto; Kimura, Akihiro; Matsui, Yoshinori; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko; Sano, Tadafumi*; Fujihara, Yasuyuki*; et al.

KURRI Progress Report 2014, P. 109, 2015/07

http://www.rri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/PUB/report/PR/ProgRep2014/CO3.pdf

As one of effective applications of the Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR), JAEA has a plan to produce Mo by (n,) method ((n,)Mo production), a parent nuclide of Tc. In this study, preliminary irradiation test was carried out with the high-density molybdenum trioxide (MoO) pellets in the hydraulic conveyer (HYD) of the Kyoto University Research Reactor (KUR) and the Tc solution extracted from Mo was evaluated. After the irradiation test of the high-density MoO pellets in the KUR, Tc was extracted from the Mo solution and the recovery rate of Tc achieved the target values. The Tc solution also got the value that satisfied the standard value for Tc radiopharmaceutical products by the solvent extraction method.

The Effect of neutron irradiation on mechanical properties of YAG laser weldments using previously irradiated material

Yamada, Hirokazu*; Kawamura, Hiroshi; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko; Kalinin, G.*; Nagao, Yoshiharu; Takada, Fumiki; Nishikawa, Masahiro*

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 340(1), p.57 - 63, 2005/04

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2004.10.117

This study was performed to clear the effect of neutron re-irradiation on mechanical properties to welding material un-irradiated and irradiated stainless steel. The effect of re-irradiation to these weldaments were evaluated by tensile tests, metallographical observation and hardness test. The result of tensile tests shows that ultimate tensile strength of all joints specimen were almost similar, 0.2% yield strength and total elongation were depend on the irradiation damage and weldaments or not. Therefore, fracture mechanism was not change by re-irradiation. However, brittlement of material was depend on irradiation damage and the property of deformation was sensitive by the effect of irradiation damage or the effect of welding heat.