Abstract
The effect of neutron irradiation on the tensile properties of normalized-and-tempered 2 1 4 Cr-1Mo steel was determined for specimens irradiated to 23 dpa in the Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II) at 390, 450, 500 and 550°C. Two types of unirradiated control specimens were tested: as-heat-treated specimens and as-heat-treated specimens thermally aged for 10000 h at the irradiation temperatures. Aging caused a loss of strength at all four temperatures. Irradiation at 390°C increased the strength and decreased the ductility compared to the control specimens. At 500 and 550°C, softening occurred relative to the thermally aged specimens, with the amount of softening greatest at 550°C. At 450°C, the strength of the irradiated specimens was similar to a specimen aged 10000 h at 450°C. The changes in tensile properties resulted from the displacement damage caused by the irradiation and by irradiation-induced changes in carbide precipitates that occurred during elevated-temperature exposure.
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