Embrittlement of chromium alloys after neutron irradiation at high temperatures to damage doses of 10–46 dpa

Abstract

The study of chromium alloys, including the low-alloyed BX-2 K alloy and Cr-Fe alloys alloyed with Zr, Y, Al, Mn, Mo additions, after irradiation at temperatures ranging from 400 to 1000 °C and neutron fluences of (2.0 − 9.3) × 1026 m−2 (E > 0.1 MeV), corresponding to damage doses of 10–46 dpa, revealed a significant tendency for radiation embrittlement in all studied alloys. The tensile ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) for these alloys increased to 250–700 °C after irradiation, while the initial DBTT was lower than room temperature. To enhance radiation embrittlement resistance, the Cr10FeZrY alloy, which exhibits a minimum DBTT of 250 °C, is recommended as a basis for further improvement of mechanical properties of Cr-Fe alloys under neutron irradiation.

Keywords

• Chromium alloy
• Radiation embrittlement
• Neutron irradiation