Study of Radiation-Induced Degradation of RPV Steels and Model Alloys by Positron Annihilation and Mössbauer Spectroscopy

WWER-440 base (15Kh2MFA) and weld (10KhMFT) RPV steels have been neutron-irradiated at the level 0.78x1024 m-2, 1.47x1024 m-2 and 2.54x1024 m-2, respectively. The irradiation of WWER-1000 base (15Kh2NMFAA) and weld (12Kh2N2MAA) were carried out at the fluence 1.12x1024 m-2. Furthermore, three different model alloys were implanted by protons at two different implantation levels up to 0.026 dpa. The weld metal of WWER-1000 has been thermally treated with the intention to simulate the P-segregation process. The influence of different microstructural processes to the degradation due to radiation embtittlement was studied by positron annihilation and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Moreover, very unique correlation of recent parameters obtained by such techniques and data of mechanical testing (ductile-to-brittle transition temperature and upper shelf energy) were reported.

ZEMAN Andrej;  DEBARBERIS Luigi;  KUPCA Ludovit;  ACOSTA IBORRA Beatriz;  KYTKA Milos;  DEGMOVA Jarmila; 

2007-07-27

Elsevier B.V.

JRC35192