PNNL

Abstract

The relationship between values of the microhardness ?? and the engineering yield stress, ?02, in steel 08Cr16Ni11Mo3 (Russian analog of AISI 316) heavily irradiated in the BN-350 reactor has been experimentally derived. It agrees very well with the previously published correlation developed by Toloczko for unirradiated 316 in a variety of cold-work conditions. Even more importantly, when the correlation is derived in the K? format where the correlation involves changes in the two properties, we find excellent agreement with a universal K? correlation developed by Busby and coworkers. With this K? correlation, one can predict the value of yield stress in irradiated material based on measured values of microhardness. The technique is particularly suitable when the material of interest is in an inconvenient location or configuration, or when significant gradients in mechanical properties are anticipated over small dimensions. This approach makes it possible to reduce the labor input and risk when conducting such work. It appears that the derived correlation is equally applicable to both Russian and Western austenitic steel, and also in both irradiated and unirradiated conditions. Additionally, this report points out that microhardness measurements must take into account that high temperature sodium exposure alters the metal surface to produce ferrite, and therefore the altered layers should be removed prior to testing.