In several recently published studies conducted on a Soviet analog of AISI 321 stainless steel irradiated in either fast reactors or light water reactors, it was shown that the void swelling phenomenon extended to temperatures as low as ~300°C, when produced by neutron irradiation at dpa rates in the range 10(-7 power) to 10(-8 power) dpa/sec. Other studies yielded similar results for AISI 316. In the current study a blanket duct assembly from BN-350, constructed from the Soviet analog of AISI 316, also exhibits swelling at dpa rates on the order of 10(-8 power) dpa/sec, with voids seen as low as 281°C and only 1.3 dpa. It appears that low-temperature swelling at low dpa rates occurs in 300 series stainless steels in general, and during irradiations conducted in either fast or mixed spectrum reactors.
Revised: December 27, 2004 |
Published: August 24, 2004
Citation
Maksimkin O.P., K.V. Tsai, L.G. Turubarova, T.A. Doronina, and F.A. Garner. 2004.Characterization of Structural Conditions of AISI 316 Analog Stainless Steel Irradiated in the BN-350 Reactor. In Fusion Materials Semiannual Progress Report for the period ending December 31, 2003 (DOE/ER-0313/35). 153-159. Springfield, Virginia:U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Fusion Energy.PNNL-SA-40810.