Anomalous small-angle X-ray scattering (ASAXS) study of irradiation-induced nanostructure change in Fe-ion beam irradiated oxide dispersion-strengthened (ODS) steel

Kumada, Takayuki; Oba, Yojiro; Motokawa, Ryuhei; Morooka, Satoshi; Tominaga, Aki; Tanida, Hajime; Shobu, Takahisa; Konno, Azusa; Owada, Kenji*; Ono, Naoko*; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 528, p.151890_1 - 151890_7, 2020/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2019.151890

We have developed an anomalous small-angle X-ray scattering (ASAXS) diffractometer in SPring-8 to investigate irradiation-induced nanostructural change in ion-beam irradiated stainless steel. A thermally-aged MA956 stainless steel sample displays power-law scattering that follows the Porod law at the magnitude of scattering vector, Q, below 0.5 nm and an overlapped shoulder around 0.7 nm. After the ion-beam irradiation, the intensity of the shoulder remained unchanged, whereas that of the power-law scattering nearly doubled. This result indicates that none of the structural parameters of the Cr-rich nanoprecipitates, such as the number density, size, and interface roughness, were changed by the irradiation.

Influence of applied load on oxidation in the vicinity of crack tips of stainless steel under high temperature water

Kasahara, Shigeki; Chimi, Yasuhiro; Hata, Kuniki; Hanawa, Satoshi

Zairyo To Kankyo, 68(9), p.240 - 247, 2019/09

In order to study environment assisted cracking mechanism of stainless steel under BWR primary coolant condition, effects of applied load on oxidation in the vicinity of crack tips of CT specimens were evaluated. Loaded CT specimens were immersed in an aqueous condition at 290C as a simulated BWR coolant condition, and microstructural observation on oxide near the tips of pre-cracks was carried out. Oxide inner layers, which consisted of fine grain magnetite containing Fe and Cr were formed, and oxide outer layers consisting of large grains of FeO were observed to cover the inner layers. FEM analysis of stress and strain in the loaded CT specimen suggests that both of dislocations due to localized plastic deformation and elastic strain could play important roles to accelerate inner oxide formation in the vicinity of the crack tip of the specimens.

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 pressurized water reactors (Contract research)

Kasahara, Shigeki; Fukuya, Koji*; Fujimoto, Koji*; Fujii, Katsuhiko*; Chimi, Yasuhiro

JAEA-Review 2018-013, 171 Pages, 2019/01

JAEA-Review-2018-013.pdf:6.89MB

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. When the data compilation, the data must be distinguished clearly in consideration of different service conditions of core internals of pressurized water reactors (PWR) and boiling 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 PWRs. To compile the table, published literature reporting irradiated stainless steel data were surveyed and screened by considering the service conditions of PWRs. 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 tables.

Viscosity measurement of nickel and stainless steel aiming at systematic viscosity measurement for molten mixture of stainless steel and boron-carbide

Kokubo, Hiroki*; Nishi, Tsuyoshi*; Ota, Hiromichi*; Yamano, Hidemasa

Nippon Kinzoku Gakkai-Shi, 82(10), p.400 - 402, 2018/09

https://doi.org/10.2320/jinstmet.JAW201812

It is important to obtain the viscosity of a mixed alloy consisting of molten stainless steel and boron-carbide (SUS316L + BC alloy) for the improvement of severe accident assessment methodology for sodium-cooled fast reactors. In this study, the viscosities of the molten nickel (Ni) and stainless steel (SUS316L) were measured by the oscillating crucible method to confirm the performance of the viscosity measurement apparatus as a first step. The viscosities of molten Ni and SUS316L melts were measured up to 1823 K. It was found that the measured viscosity values of molten Ni and SUS316L were estimated from the deviation of the experimental data, were 4% and 3%, respectively. It was also found that those of molten Ni and SUS316L were close to those of the literature values of molten Ni and similar composite stainless steels. Moreover, we tentatively measured the viscosity of molten SUS316L-5 mass%BC alloy. The fitted results of the viscosity for molten Ni and SUS316L were obtained.

Effect of welding on gigacycle fatigue strength of austenitic stainless steels

Naoe, Takashi; Wakui, Takashi; Kogawa, Hiroyuki; Wakai, Eiichi; Haga, Katsuhiro; Takada, Hiroshi

Advanced Experimental Mechanics, 3, p.123 - 128, 2018/08

A mercury target vessel, composed of SUS316L, is used for the pulsed neutron source and is assembled via TIG welding. While in operation, the target vessel suffers ca. 10 loading cycles with a high strain rate of ca. 50 s because of the proton-beam-induced pressure waves in mercury. The gigacycle fatigue strength for solution annealed SUS316L stainless steels and its welded specimens were investigated through ultrasonic fatigue tests. The experimental results showed that an obvious fatigue limit was not observed at fewer than 10 cycles for the base metal. In the case of no weld defects observed via penetration tests, the fatigue strength of the removed-weld-bead specimen, in which the weld lines were arranged at the center of the specimen, appeared to be slightly higher than that of the base metal. By contrast, as-welded specimens with the weld bead intact showed apparent degradation of the fatigue strength owing to the stress concentration around the weld toe.

The Survey for the integrity of containers for secondary wastes generated from contaminated water treatment

Iida, Yoshihisa; Nakadoi, Yasumasa; Yamaguchi, Tetsuji

Genshiryoku Bakkuendo Kenkyu (CD-ROM), 24(1), p.53 - 64, 2017/06

https://doi.org/10.3327/jnuce.24.1_53

The information on the contaminated water treatment in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station announced by Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (TEPCO) were summarized in terms of the management of the secondary wastes, for the purpose of accumulating technical knowledge for long-term storage of the wastes. Concerns for the long-term soundness of waste storage containers were pointed out as follows, corrosion of stainless steel containers exposed to radiation in the presence of chloride ions, corrosion of stainless steel containers under acidic conditions or in the presence of activated carbon, and radiation degradation of the high-performance container (HIC) in which slurry was stored.

Electrical conductivity and potential response within crevice of stainless steel in high temperature water under cyclic deaerated and aerated condition

Soma, Yasutaka; Kato, Chiaki; Ueno, Fumiyoshi

Fushoku Boshoku Kyokai Dai-63-Kai Zairyo To Kankyo Toronkai Koenshu, p.253 - 256, 2016/10

Contribution of corrosion to advance of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of stainless steel in high temperature water must be assessed because serious corrosion can be found within SCC of light water reactors. The corrosion took the form of both intergranular and grain-matrix attack indicate aggressive corrosion condition was formed in the crevice of the SCC. We have investigated the crevice environment electrochemically and found that local electrical conductivity of the crevice solution at satisfactory narrow crevice gap having more than 100 times higher than that of bulk solution. In this research we assessed effect of cyclic deaerated and aerated bulk solution to the crevice environment. The result showed that electrical conductivity of the crevice solution under the deaerated bulk solution increased more than 10times by injection of pure oxygen suggest that the dissolved oxygen caused aggressive corrosion condition within the crevice.

Presence of -martensite as an intermediate phase during the strain-induced transformation of SUS304 stainless steel

Hatano, Masaharu*; Kubota, Yoshiki*; Shobu, Takahisa; Mori, Shigeo*

Philosophical Magazine Letters, 96(6), p.220 - 227, 2016/06

https://doi.org/10.1080/09500839.2016.1190876

We have investigated the formation process of '-martensite from the -phase induced by external strain using in-situ synchrotron diffraction experiments, combined with Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM observations. It is clearly demonstrated that -martensite with hexagonal symmetry appears as an intermediate structure during the plastic deformation of SUS304 stainless steel. In addition to stacking faults and dislocations, interfaces between the twin structures presumably play a key role in the formation of -martensite.

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.

Localized corrosion behavior of stainless steel in the diluted artificial sea-water contacted with zeolite under -ray irradiation

Kato, Chiaki; Sato, Tomonori; Nakano, Junichi; Ueno, Fumiyoshi; Yamagishi, Isao; Yamamoto, Masahiro

Nippon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi, 14(3), p.181 - 188, 2015/09

https://doi.org/10.3327/taesj.J14.030

In relation to the consideration for long-term storage of spent Cs adsorption vessels containing zeolites in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, corrosion of the vessel material in the spent Cs adsorption vessel is one of important issues. We performed electrochemical tests of stainless steel (SUS 316L) in the zeolites containing artificial seawater under -ray irradiation. The spontaneous potential () and critical pitting potential (), of SUS 316L were measured to understand the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel in this study. The rest potential of the stainless steel increased with increasing time after -ray irradiation. The , defined as the steady rest potential, increased with increasing dose rate, while increasing was suppressed by contact with the zeolites. Concentration of HO in bulk water increased with increasing dose rate. The concentration increasing was suppressed by contact with the zeolites due to decomposition of HO. There was good relationship between and the concentration of HO. The of SUS 316L contacted with the zeolites decreased with increasing Cl ion concentration and is slightly smaller than the in the bulk water. The contact with the zeolites causes the suppressant of increasing under the irradiation. The contact with the zeolite can reduce probability in the localized corrosion for SUS 316L.