Abstract
The microstructure of a radiation-sensitive KS-01 test weld has been characterized by atom probe tomography. The levels of copper, manganese, nickel and chromium in this weld were amongst the highest of all the steels used in Western reactor pressure vessels. After neutron irradiation to a fluence of 0.8×1023 nm-2 (E > 1 MeV) at a temperature of 288 °C, this weld exhibited a large Charpy T41J shift of 169 K, a large shift of the fracture toughness transition temperature of 160 K, a decrease in upper shelf energy from 118 to ∼78 J, and an increase in the yield strength from 600 to 826 MPa. However, the mechanical properties data conformed to the master curve. Atom probe tomography revealed a high number density (∼3×1024 m-3) of Cu-, Mn-, Ni-, Si- and P-enriched precipitates and a lower number density (∼1 ×1023 m-3) of P clusters.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 177-183 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Nuclear Materials |
Volume | 320 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1 2003 |
Funding
The authors would like to thank Dr R.E. Stoller for his assistance. Research at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory SHaRE Collaborative Research Center was sponsored by the Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering, US Department of Energy, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with UT-Batelle, LLC and by the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, US Nuclear Regulatory Commission under inter-agency agreement DOE 1886-N695-3W with the US Department of Energy.