The tensile properties of AISI 316L and OPTIFER in various conditions irradiated in a spallation environment

Tensile specimens, prepared from AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel in three conditions (solution-annealed, cold-worked and electron-beam welded) and from OPTIFER martensitic stainless steel in tempered condition. were irradiated in the Swiss spallation neutron source (SINQ) at 90 400 degrees C to displacement doses from 3 dpa to 11 dpa. The mechanical properties were measured by tensile testing at room temperature and 250 degrees C, respectively. and subsequent metallographic analysis was employed. The tensile results indicated that the strength of AISI 316L-SA is quite similar or a little higher than in 316L-EBW but elongation of SA 316L is somewhat larger than EBW for both unirradiated and irradiated samples. The cold-worked specimens revealed Much higher strength but almost zero strain-to-necking after irradiation. The results from OPTIFER samples showed that irradiation hardening increases with dose, which is accompanied by a dramatic reduction of uniform elongation beginning at very low dose. The metallographicanalysis showed that the samples of AISI 316L-EBW failed in the welded zone. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.