Study of the Long-Term Strength of Neutron-Irradiated Austenitic and Ferrite-Martensite Steel

Abstract

The results of a study of the long-term strength of austenitic and ferrite-martensite steel after irradiation in the BR-10, BOR-60, BN-350, and BN-600 reactors are presented. It is shown that irradiation of austenitic-class steel (EI-847, 0Kh18N10T, and ChS-68) greatly reduces the time to failure and the plasticity. This behavior of austenitic steel is associated with the phenomenon of high-temperature radiation embrittlement. Neutron irradiation does not degrade the long-term mechanical characteristics of ferrite-martensite steel, which remain either at the level of the unirradiated material (EP-823, 05Kh12N2M steels) or surpass it (EP-450 steel).