Developing a nuclear grade of alloy 617 for Gen IV Nuclear Energy Systems

Alloy 617, an attractive material not particularly developed for nuclear use, is now being considered as a leading candidate alloy by several countries for applications in the Gen IV Nuclear Energy Systems. An extensive review of its existing data suggests that it would be beneficial to refine the alloy s specification to a nuclear grade for the intended Gen IV systems. In this paper, rationale for developing a nuclear grade of the alloy is first discussed through an analysis on existing data from various countries. Then initial experiments for refining the alloy specification are described. Preliminary results have suggested the feasibility of the refinement approach, as well as the possibility for achieving a desirable nuclear grade. Based on the results, further research activities are recommended.