SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1979
STP38171S

Exploratory Investigations of Cyclic Irradiation and Annealing Effects on Notch Ductility of A533-B Weld Deposits

Source

Postirradiation heat treatment (annealing) is being investigated as a possible method for the periodic relief of radiation embrittlement to reactor vessel steels. This report describes a study of the Charpy-V (CV) notch ductility of two representative A533-B weld deposits under two full annealing and reirradiation cycles. The welds were specially chosen for their high sensitivity to radiation effects and for their difference in as-fabricated CV upper-shelf energy levels. Notch ductility properties were determined at each phase in the irradiation-annealing sequence. Heat-treatment temperatures were selected to represent two heat-treatment options open for vessel annealing.

The results demonstrate that a 399°C (750°F), 168-h heat treatment is highly effective for reducing radiation embrittlement accrual in service; in contrast, a 343°C (650°F), 168-h heat treatment is shown to be of little benefit for the fluence conditions investigated. A greater rate of radiation embrittlement was observed for the heat-treated material (both conditions) compared with nonheat-treated material. The investigations also revealed a significant difference between upper-shelf energy and transition temperature response to heat treatment.

Author Information

Hawthorne, JR
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C.
Watson, HE
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C.
Loss, FJ
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C.
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: 278–294
DOI: 10.1520/STP38171S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5551-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0327-6