Abstract

Results are described from the investigation of swelling caused by fast-neutron-induced void formation in stainless steel fuel cladding and high-nickel alloys irradiated in fast flux (EBR-II) to fluences up to 7.3 × 1022 n/cm2, E > 0.1 MeV. Immersion density measurements of swelling gave results ranging from a volume increase of 10 percent in solution-annealed Type 347 stainless steel to a small densification in Inconel-625. Transmission electron microscopy investigations revealed that the extent of void formation in Types 316 and 347 stainless steels, Incoloy-800, and Hastelloy-X was related to the degree of intragranular precipitation (principally carbides), whereas the Ni3 Cb precipitation in Inconel-625 had apparently inhibited void formation altogether. It is concluded that precipitate particles can play a major role in determining the extent of void formation in austenitic alloys during neutron irradiation, and in the optimum morphology (a high concentration of closely spaced, small and possibly coherent particles) they offer promise of largely inhibiting void formation and swelling.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.