SEDL / STP / STP1175-EB / STP23945S

The Radiation Hardening and Embrittlement of a Mild Steel Submerged-Arc Weld

Buswell, JT
Research Officer, Nuclear Electric plc, Berkeley Technology Centre, Berkeley, Glos.

Bolton, CJ
Group Head, Nuclear Electric plc, Berkeley Technology Centre, Berkeley, Glos.

Wootton, MR
Research Officer, Nuclear Electric plc, Berkeley Technology Centre, Berkeley, Glos.

Bischler, PJE
Research Officer, Nuclear Electric plc, Berkeley Technology Centre, Berkeley, Glos.

Jones, RB
Research Officer, Nuclear Electric plc, Berkeley Technology Centre, Berkeley, Glos.

Jones, LT
Research Officer, Nuclear Electric plc, Berkeley Technology Centre, Berkeley, Glos.

Phythian, WJ
Section Leader, AEA Technology, Harwell Laboratory, Oxon.

Sinclair, RR
Section Leader, AEA Technology, Harwell Laboratory, Oxon.

Pages: 20    Published: Jan 1994

Download this paper for $25 PDF (352K)          View License Agreement
Abstract

This paper provides details of accelerated irradiation experiments on a Magnox mild steel submerged-arc weld at mean irradiation temperatures of 165°C and 269°C. The irradiation-induced changes in mechanical properties and weld microstructure have been determined. Irradiation increased the 40J transition temperature and the yield stress. The increase in transition temperature at a given dose was rather higher in the lower temperature irradiations. Irradiation-induced precipitates of about 2nm diameter were produced in both series of irradiations. Small angle neutron scattering data indicated a precipitate composition of about 75Cu25Mn (at%). Electron microscopy confirmed the presence of copper-rich precipitates of that size. The irradiation dose ranges covered the development stage of the precipitation. The directly measured and (yield stress) derived transition shift data were interpreted satisfactorily using a mechanistically based model involving a matrix damage component and a component attributable to copper precipitation.