TY - JOUR
T1 - SANS study of high-copper RPV welds in irradiated and annealed conditions
AU - Sokolov, Mikhail A.
AU - Spooner, Steve
AU - Odette, G. Robert
AU - Wirth, Brian D.
AU - Lucas, Glenn E.
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) has been used to study reactor pressure vessel (RPV) welds from the Heavy-Section Steel Irradiation (HSSI) Program. Each of the welds contains high bulk copper contents ranging from 0.26 to 0.40 wt%. The welds were irradiated in test reactors to fluences ranging from 0.5 to 1.9×1019 n/cm2 (E > 1 MeV). SANS measurements were performed to determine number density, radius, and volume fraction of irradiation-induced scattering centers which were consistent with copper-rich precipitates (CRPs). The bulk copper content had no effect on CRP number density, volume fraction, and average radius. Postirradiation annealing (PIA) was performed on the welds for 168 h at 343, 399, and 454°C. SANS measurements on these samples show that high temperature PIA decreases the CRP number density and volume fraction while increasing the average radius. The SANS data obtained on these welds are consistent with the University of California, Santa Barbara, database and comparison is made with two A533B type model alloys irradiated to a similar fluence and following PIA. Evolution of the CRP scattering centers with irradiation and PIA is compared to the changes in mechanical properties.
AB - Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) has been used to study reactor pressure vessel (RPV) welds from the Heavy-Section Steel Irradiation (HSSI) Program. Each of the welds contains high bulk copper contents ranging from 0.26 to 0.40 wt%. The welds were irradiated in test reactors to fluences ranging from 0.5 to 1.9×1019 n/cm2 (E > 1 MeV). SANS measurements were performed to determine number density, radius, and volume fraction of irradiation-induced scattering centers which were consistent with copper-rich precipitates (CRPs). The bulk copper content had no effect on CRP number density, volume fraction, and average radius. Postirradiation annealing (PIA) was performed on the welds for 168 h at 343, 399, and 454°C. SANS measurements on these samples show that high temperature PIA decreases the CRP number density and volume fraction while increasing the average radius. The SANS data obtained on these welds are consistent with the University of California, Santa Barbara, database and comparison is made with two A533B type model alloys irradiated to a similar fluence and following PIA. Evolution of the CRP scattering centers with irradiation and PIA is compared to the changes in mechanical properties.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033335883&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1520/stp13873s
DO - 10.1520/stp13873s
M3 - Conference article
AN - SCOPUS:0033335883
SN - 1040-3094
SP - 333
EP - 345
JO - ASTM Special Technical Publication
JF - ASTM Special Technical Publication
IS - 1325
T2 - Proceedings of the 1996 18th International Symposium: Effects of Radiation on Materials
Y2 - 25 June 1996 through 27 June 1996
ER -