Neutron irradiated austenitic stainless steels: An applied methodology for nanoindentation and TEM studies

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F26722445%3A_____%2F18%3AN0000144" target="_blank" >RIV/26722445:_____/18:N0000144 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

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DOI - Digital Object Identifier

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Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Neutron irradiated austenitic stainless steels: An applied methodology for nanoindentation and TEM studies

Original language description

Neutron radiation induced microstructural changes cause degradation of mechanical properties and the life time reduction of reactor internals during nuclear power plant operation. Investigating the effects of neutron irradiation on mechanical properties of irradiated material (hardening, embrittlement) is challenging and time consuming. Although the fast neutron spectrum has the major influence on microstructural properties, the thermal neutron effect is widely investigated owing to Irradiation Assisted Stress Corrosion Cracking firstly observed in BWR stainless steels. In this study, 300-series austenitic stainless steels used as material for NPP's internals, were examined after neutron irradiation at ~ 15 dpa. Although several nanoindentation experimental publications are available to determine the mechanical properties of ion irradiated materials, less is available on neutron irradiated materials at high dpa tested in hot-cells. In this work, we present particular methodology developed to determine the mechanical properties of neutron irradiated steels by nanoindentation technique. Furthermore radiation induced damage in the specimens was investigated by High Resolution - Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM) that showed the defect features, particularly Frank loops, cavity microstructure, radiation-induced precipitates and radiation-induced segregation. The results of nanoindentation measurements and associated nanoscale defect features showed the effect of irradiation-induced hardening. We also propose methodologies to optimized sample preparation for nanoindentation and microscotructural studies.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

O - Miscellaneous

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

20305 - Nuclear related engineering; (nuclear physics to be 1.3);

Project

<a href="/en/project/LQ1603" target="_blank" >LQ1603: Research for SUSEN</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2018

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů