Radiation Effects in Ferritic Steels and Advanced Ferritic-Martensitic Steels

Abstract

The present review begins with a brief introduction to the development of ferritic and ferritic-martensitic steels summarizing the development history in each country. The main thrust is on the development of commercial ferritic steels for core components of fission, fast, and fusion reactors. Hence, the next part of the review introduces the irradiation effects in ferritic and ferritic-martensitic steels, including radiation damage mechanisms of core components in reactors. The irradiation response of ferritic steels with respect to microstructural evolution, swelling, irradiation hardening, irradiation embrittlement, and irradiation creep are highlighted. The main concerns of ferritic steels such as the inferior high temperature irradiation creep and severe embrittlement are addressed. Finally, the development of advanced creep-resistant ferritic steels like ODS steels, for fission and fusion applications are presented. The future trends in the application of ferritic steels in fast and fusion reactor technology are finally summarized.