SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1993
STP24759S

Radiation Stability of WWER-440 Vessel Materials

Source

The main results of a complex investigation of radiation embrittlement of WWER-440 reactor vessel (RV) materials, carried out in the former USSR are presented. The object of the investigation was surveillance specimen (SS) evaluations of RV materials. It has been found that at an irradiation temperature of 270°C neither the base metal (steel 15 Kh2MFA) nor weld metal exhibits saturation of radiation embrittlement in irradiation of specimens up to neutron fluences of 7 × 1020 n/cm2 (E > 0.5 MeV). Regularities in the influence of impurity elements (copper and phosphorus) on radiation embrittlement of RV materials have been investigated. It is shown that radiation embrittlement of the weld metal is determined by at least four processes associated with the individual effects of copper and phosphorus, their joint effect, and the mechanism of direct buildup of radiation defects in the metal. The effect of dependence of the radiation embrittlement characteristics of the WWER-440 RV materials on the neutron flux has been found. It is shown that within the range of fluences from 1 to 5 × 1018 n/cm2 at a neutron flux of 4 × 1011 n/cm2˙s, radiation embrittlement is stronger than in irradiation at a neutron flux of 3 to 4 × 1012 n/cm2˙s. A tendency has been observed for the values of the radiation embrittlement coefficients AF, characterizing sensitivity of the steel to radiation embrittlement, to reduce with an increase of neutron fluence in irradiation of specimens with a neutron flux of 4 × 1011 n/cm2˙s.

Author Information

Amayev, AD
Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy, Moscow, Russia
Kryukov, AM
Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy, Moscow, Russia
Levit, VI
Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy, Moscow, Russia
Sokolov, MA
Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy, Moscow, Russia
Price: $25.00
Contact Sales
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Developed by Committee: E10
Pages: 9–29
DOI: 10.1520/STP24759S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5228-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-1478-4