Helium Effects on Neutron-Irradiated Cr-Mo Ferritic Steels: A Review of Recent Results

Abstract

Large amounts of transmutation helium will be produced in the first wall of a fusion reactor by the high-energy neutrons from the fusion reaction. Since no fusion reactor is available, the effect of simultaneous helium production and displacement damage from neutron irradiation must be simulated. One method that has been used in ferritic steels is to add nickel to the steels and irradiate them in a mixed-spectrum reactor. In such reactors, the fast neutrons produce displacement damage, while helium is produced by a two-step reaction of 58Ni with thermal neutrons. This technique has been used to investigate the effect of helium on swelling, tensile properties, impact properties, and elevated-temperature embrittlement. Results indicate that helium accelerates swelling and affects tensile and impact properties of chromium-molybdenum (Cr-Mo) ferritic steels below ̃450°C. However, these steels are highly resistant to elevated-temperature helium embrittlement.