The Role of silicon on solute clustering and embrittlement in highly neutron-irradiated pressurized water reactor surveillance test specimens

Takamizawa, Hisashi; Hata, Kuniki; Nishiyama, Yutaka; Toyama, Takeshi*; Nagai, Yasuyoshi*

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 556, p.153203_1 - 153203_10, 2021/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2021.153203

Solute clusters (SCs) formed in pressurized water reactor surveillance test specimens neutron-irradiated to a fluence of 1 10 n/cm were analyzed via atom probe tomography to understand the effect of silicon on solute clustering and irradiation embrittlement of reactor pressure vessel steels. In high-Cu bearing materials, Cu atoms were aggregated at the center of cluster surrounded by the Ni, Mn, and Si atoms like a core-shell structure. In low-Cu bearing materials, Ni, Mn, and Si atoms formed cluster and these solutes were not comprised core-shell structure in SCs. While the number of Cu atoms in clusters was decreased with decreasing nominal Cu content, the number of Si atoms had clearly increased. The cluster radius () and number density () decreased and increased, respectively, with increasing nominal Si content. The shift in the reference temperature for nil-ductility transition (RT) showed a good correlation with the square root of volume fraction () multiplied by r (). This suggested that the dislocation cutting through the particles mechanism dominates the precipitation hardening responsible for irradiation embrittlement. The negative relation between the nominal Si content and RT indicated that increasing of nominal Si content reduces the degree of embrittlement.

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

https://doi.org/10.3323/jcorr.68.240

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.

Notch toughness evaluation of diffusion-bonded joint of alumina dispersion-strengthened copper to stainless steel

Nishi, Hiroshi

Fusion Engineering and Design, 81(1-7), p.269 - 274, 2006/02

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2005.07.011

Tensile strength of the diffusion bonded joint was as large as that of Alumina dispersion-strengthened copper (DS Cu), however, the Charpy absorbed energy of the joint was considerably lower than that of DS Cu. Instrumented Charpy impact test and slow-bend Charpy test of diffusion bonded joints were performed to clarify the degradation of Charpy absorbed energy. Elasto-plastic analyses were also carried out in order to study the deformation behavior of the tensile and V-notched specimens for joints. As the results, the fracture behaviors of the impact and slow-bend tests were almost the same. Elasto-plastic analyses showed that the maximum strain occurred at the DS Cu apart from the interface for tensile specimen, however, the strain concentrated at the DS Cu near the interface for the notched specimen. This strain concentration arose from the mechanical heterogeneity between stainless steel and DS Cu in the bonded zone and attributed to the degradation of the absorbed energy of the joints.

Long-term immersion tests of engineered materials in the Tono mine; Results for metals

Hama, Katsuhiro; Taniguchi, Naoki; Honda, Akira

JNC TN7430 2000-002, 25 Pages, 2001/01

JNC-TN7430-2000-002.pdf:3.32MB

The burial tests of mild steel and pure titanium were performed in a gallery at Tono mine to assess the corrosion resistance of these materials under goundwater environment. Specimens were placed in the container and immersed into groundwater. After the immersion period, the apperance of the surface of these specimens were observed. The corrosion product of mild steel specimen was analysed by various methods. The average corrosion rate of mild steel for 10 years was assessed by the measurement of the weight loss of carbon steel specimen. The results of the test were summerised as follows : (1)The average corrosion rate of mild steel for 10 years was assessed to be 4.36 10mm/y by the weight loss of the specimen. (2)The corrosion product consists of outer porous substance and inner tight corrosion product film. The former contains ferric oxide such as goethite and the latter contains ferrous oxide such as magnetite. (3)The evidence of the initiation of localised corrosion was not observed on the titanium specimens.

Evaluation of charpy impact property in high strength ferritic/martensitic steel (PNC-FMS)

;

JNC TN9400 2000-035, 164 Pages, 2000/03

JNC-TN9400-2000-035.pdf:3.67MB

High Strength Ferritic/Martensitic Steel (PNC-FMS : 0.12C-11Cr-0,5Mo-2W-0.2V-0.05Nb), developed by JNC, is one of the candidate materials for the long-life core of large-scale fast breeder reactor. Ductile brittle transition temperature (DBTT) was tentatively determined in 1992 in material design base standard of PNC-FMS. Howevcr, specimen size effect on impact property and upper shelf energy (USE) have not been evaluated. ln this study, effects of specimen size, thermal aging and neutron irradiation on the charpy impact property of PNC-FMS were evaluated, using together with recently obtained data. The design value of USE and DBTT as fabricated and each correlation of aging and irradiation effects were determined. The results are summarized as follows. (1)lt was found that USE is related to (Bb) as USE=m(Bb), where B is specimen width, b is ligament size and both m and n are constant. For PNC-FMS, n value is equal to 1.4. It's possible to determine n value from USE (J) for full size specimen using the correlation: n=1.3810 USE + 1.20. (2)lt was clarified that DBTT is correlated with (BKt) as DBTT=p(logBKt)+q, where Kt is elastic stress concentration factor and both p and q are constant. For PNC-FMS, the correlation is as follows: DBTT=119(logBKt)-160. (3)DBTT estimated at the irradiation temperature from 350 to 650 C for sub size specimen (width and height are 3 and 10 mm, respectively), was below 180 C, based on the design value of DBTT as fabricated and each correlation of aging and irradiation effects.

Trial manufacturing of copper-carbon steel composite overpack

*; *; Tanai, Kenji

JNC TN8400 99-049, 94 Pages, 1999/11

JNC-TN8400-99-049.pdf:6.63MB

This paper reports the results of design analysis and trial manufacturing of copper-carbon steel composite overpacks. The overpack is one of the key components of the engineered barrier system, hence, it is necessary to confirm the applicability of current technique in their manufacture. The Copper-Carbon steel composite overpack consists of a double container, an outer vessel made of oxygen-free, high-purity copper as the corrosion allowance material, and an inner vessel made of carbon steel as the pressure-resistant material. The trial manufacturing in this time, only the copper outer vessel has been fabricated. Both oxygen-free copper and oxygen-free phosphorus copper were used as materials for the outer vessel. For the shell and bottom portion, these materials were formed integrally by a backward extrusion method. For sealing the top cover plate to the main body, an electron-beam welding method was applied. After manufacturing, mechanical testing of specimens from the copper vessels were carried out. It was confirmed that current technique has sufficient feasibility to manufacture outer vessel. In addition, potential for irradiation embrittlement of the inner carbon-steel vessel by irradiation from vitrified waste over the life time of the overpack has been analyzed. It was shown that the small degree of irradiation embrittlement gives no significant impact on the pressure resistance of the carbon-steel vessel. Future research and development items regarding copper-carbon steel composite overpacks are also discussed.

Effect of size and configuration of 3-point bend bar specimens on the J-R curves

Jitsukawa, Shiro; Naito, Akira; *

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 271-272, p.87 - 91, 1999/00

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3115(98)00698-9

no abstracts in English

Development of a miniaturized hour-glass shaped fatigue specimen

Miwa, Yukio; Jitsukawa, Shiro; Hishinuma, Akimichi

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 258-263(PT.A), p.457 - 461, 1998/00

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3115(98)00306-7

no abstracts in English

Development of small specimen test techniques; Development of a remote controlled small punch testing apparatus

Omi, Masao; Saito, Junichi; Ooka, Norikazu; Jitsukawa, Shiro; Hishinuma, Akimichi;

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai-Shi, 39(11), p.966 - 974, 1997/00

https://doi.org/10.3327/jaesj.39.966

no abstracts in English

Surface-activated joining,reconstitution technique of surveillance specimens

*; Nishiyama, Yutaka

Genshiryoku Kogyo, 42(9), p.26 - 29, 1996/00

http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/40001074534

no abstracts in English