Abstract
The irradiation-induced creep and swelling of AISI 316 stainless steel have been investigated at two temperatures (400 and 550°C) to very high neutron fluences. It is shown that creep and swelling can be considered as interactive phenomena with several stages of creep related to the total amount of accumulated swelling. The final stage involves the apparent cessation of creep and has been observed only at the higher irradiation temperature. The development of a coincident and severe ex-reactor embrittlement problem after irradiation at 400° C appears also to be separately related to the development of substantial swelling. This latter phenomenom was not observed at 550° C. The mechanisms thought to be possibly responsible for each of these two phenomena are discussed in detail.
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