Microstructure and Swelling of Fast Neutron Irradiated Type 304 Stainless Steel.

Abstract

The effects of high-fluence, fast-neutron irradiation on the microstructure, swelling, and microhardness were evaluated for annealed Type 304 stainless steel that had attained fluences near 1.6 X 10 to the 23rd power n/sq cm > 0.1 MeV at irradiation temperatures from 370C to 470C (698F to 878F). Transmission electron microscopy was employed to characterize the radiation-induced void and defect structures. A maximum swelling of 10.4% was determined by immersion density measurements and independently confirmed from the microscopy data. Ambient temperature microhardness measurements were found to be in general agreement with calculated microhardness values based on the microscopy data. The calculations indicate that the radiation-induced voids were the primary microstructural component responsible for the measured microhardness. All results show the strong influence of the irradiation temperature and neutron fluence gradients experienced by the material during the EBR-II exposure.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 09, 1974
Accession Number
ADA003448

Entities

People

  • D. J. Michel
  • H. H. Smith
  • J. T. Atwell

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Corpuscular Radiation
  • Electron Microscopy
  • Fast Neutrons
  • Measurement
  • Microhardness
  • Microscopy
  • Microstructure
  • Neutron Bombardment
  • Neutrons
  • Nuclear Radiation
  • Radiation
  • Stainless Steel
  • Steel
  • Subatomic Particles
  • Transmission Electron Microscopy

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Nuclear and Radiation Engineering.
  • Powder metallurgy of Titanium alloys.
  • Thermal Physics or Thermal Science.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics