SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1997
STP16594S

The Optimization of Mechanical Properties for Nuclear Transportation Casks in ASTM A350 LF5

Source

Transport flasks are required for the movement of spent nuclear fuel. Due to their nature of operation, it is necessary that these flasks are produced from forged steels with exceptional toughness properties. The material specification generally cited for flask manufacture is ASTM A350 Grade LF5 Class 1, a carbon-manganese-nickel alloy. The range of chemical analysis permitted by this specification is very broad and it is the responsibility of the material manufacturer to select a composition within this range which will satisfy all the mechanical property requirements, and to ensure safe and reliable performance.

Forgemasters Steel and Engineering Limited have experience in the manufacture of large high integrity fuel element flask forgings which extend over several decades. This experience and involvement in international standards in USA, Europe and Japan has facilitated the development of an optimised analysis with a low carbon content, nickel levels towards the top end of the allowed range, a deliberate aluminium addition to control grain size and strictly controlled residual element levels. The resultant steel has excellent low temperature impact properties which greatly exceed the requirements of the specification This analysis is now being adopted for the manufacture of all current transport flasks.

Author Information

Price, S
Forgemasters Steel and Engineering, Sheffield, England
Honeyman, GA
Forged Rolls (UK) Ltd, Sheffield, England
Price: $25.00
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Details
Developed by Committee: A01
Pages: 79–90
DOI: 10.1520/STP16594S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5349-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-2423-3