THE INFLUENCE OF COMPOSITION ON THE FRACTURE TOUGHNESS OF COMMERCIAL NUCLEAR VESSEL WELDS.
Abstract
Irradiation studies of welds of the ASTM Type A302-B and A533-B steels, most commonly used for commercial water reactor vessels, demonstrated several instances in which the weld metal exhibited lower fracture toughness or greater elevation of the brittle-to-ductile transition temperature than that observed for the companion base-plate and weld heat-affected-zone material. Examination of the structure and composition led to the conclusion that composition is critical to the level of radiation-induced embrittlement. The level of copper and phosphorus contents has been shown to be especially critical to the level of embrittlement with welds having high copper (>0.20%) and phosphorus (>0.015%) showing greater embrittlement than those containing lesser amounts. These experimental observations were verified through laboratory tests in which these constituents and other residual elements were controlled in weldments simulating those for reactor service. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 23, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0709554
Entities
People
- Lendell E. Steele
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory