Radiation embrittlement characteristics

Abstract This chapter discusses the role of simulation irradiation techniques in studies of radiation embrittlement mechanisms. The chapter first reviews characteristics and examples of test reactor irradiation, ion irradiation and electron irradiation. The chapter then discusses advantages and limitations of these techniques from the viewpoint of damage rate, sample volume and damage characteristics. 

Wrought austenitic stainless steels do not exhibit the sharp ductile to brittle transition behavior characteristic of low alloy and carbon steels. Rather, toughness losses due to irradiation tend to accumulate with increasing fluence and saturate at levels >1x10 n/m. Until recently, there was little information available to quantify the effects of radiation embrittlement on RPVIs. New information [5.2] describes the results of a fracture toughness study performed on irradiated Type 304 stainless steel reactor internal material taken from... 

Characteristics of PWR RPV embrittlement, including the effects of variables, are described in this section. The degree of embrittlement and hardening induced in ferritic steels after exposure to fast neutron radiation is an issue of the utmost importance in the design and operation of NPPs. The beltline region of the RPV is the most critical region. The effects of variables on the embrittlement are briefly explained as follows ... 

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