Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-21T23:03:04.371Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Using Analytical Electron Microscopy to Design Radiation Resistant Steels for Fusion Applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2013

Get access

Extract

The Fusion Reactor Materials Program in the United States began in about the mid-1970s, in a world sensitized to energy production needs by the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo. In the program's early stages, materials problems were recognized to be as important as any of the other problems facing this new energy technology. The effects of irradiation on the behavior of materials to be used in the first-wall and blanket structure were of particular concern. Today, although the economic and political realities that define energy needs have changed, fusion energy still remains an important part of our vision for a better future. Global environmental effects such as the “greenhouse effect” from increased CO2 in the atmosphere and acid rain, coupled with safety concerns about fission reactors, make fusion very attractive as a clean and safe energy source.

Over the past 10 years, the range of candidate materials for structural application in fusion reactors has expanded to include new martensitic and ferritic steels with reduced activation characteristics, vanadium alloys, ceramics, and composite materials. However, because austenitic stainless steels are easily fabricated, nonmagnetic, reasonably strong and tough, commercially available, and familiar, they also remain as candidate materials for fusion. They have also been extensively studied for use in various fission reactor systems as well. The austenitic and stainless properties of Fe-Cr-Ni alloys and steels were discovered during 1900–1915. Commercial grades like AISI types 304 and 316 stainless steels were developed prior to World War II. The effects of irradiation on materials have been studied since 1942, when Eugene P. Wigner anticipated that fission fragments and energetic neutrons would damage crystalline materials by displacing atoms to create point defects (vacancies and interstitials).

Type
Fusion Materials
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.The Fusion Reactor Materials Program Plan, Sect. 1 — Alloy Development for Irradiation Performance, U.S.D.O.E, DOE/ET-0032/1 (July 1978).Google Scholar
2.Kintner, E.E., in Radiation Effects and Tritium Technology for Fusion Reactors, U.S.-E.R.D.A., CONF-750989, Vol. 1 (March 1976) p. 11.Google Scholar
3.Stainless Steel, Lula, R.A. (Am. Soc. for Metals, Metals Park, OH, 1986).Google Scholar
4.The Metallurgical Evolution of Stainless Steels, edited by Pickering, F.B. (Am. Soc. for Metals and The Metals Soc, Metals Park, OH, 1979).Google Scholar
5. Chapter 1, in Radiation Effects in Solids, edited by Dienes, G.J. and Vineyard, G.H. (Interscience Publishers Inc., New York, NY, 1957) p. 1.Google Scholar
6.Cawthorne, C. and Fulton, E.J., in Symposium on The Nature of Small Defect Clusters, Vol. 2, edited by Makin, M.J. (AERE Harwell, AERE-R-5269, 1966) p. 446.Google Scholar
7.Cawthorne, C. and Fulton, E.J., Nature 216 (1967) p. 575.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Mosedale, D.et al., Nature 224 (1969) p. 1301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Okamoto, P.R., Harkness, S.D. and Laidler, J.J., Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc. 16 (1973) p. 70.Google Scholar
10.Brager, H.R. and Straalsund, J.L., J. Nucl. Mater. 46 (1973) p. 134.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Okamoto, P.R. and Wiedersich, H., J. Nucl. Mater. 53 (1974) p. 336.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Mansur, L.K., in Kinetics of Nonhomogeneous Processes, edited by Freeman, G.R. (John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, 1987) p. 337.Google Scholar
13.Maziasz, P.J. and McHargue, C.J., Int. Mater. Rev. 32 (1987) p. 190.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14.Maziasz, P.J., in MiCon 86: Optimization of Processing, Properties and Service Performance Through Microstructural Control, ASTM STP 979 (Am. Soc. for Testing and Mater., Philadelphia, PA, 1988) p. 116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15.Mansur, L.K. and Coghlan, W.A., J. Nucl. Mater. 119 (1983) p. 1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16.Maziasz, P.J., J. Nucl. Mater. 122 & 123 (1984) p. 472.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17.Farrell, K., et al., Radiat. Eff. 78 (1983) p. 277.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18.Stoller, R.E., et al., J. Nucl. Mater. 155-157 (1988) p. 1328.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19.Mansur, L.K., et al., J. Nucl. Mater. 141-143 (1986) p. 633.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20.Maziasz, P.J. and Braski, D.N., J. Nucl. Mater. 122 & 123 (1984) p. 311.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21.Maziasz, P.J. and Braski, D.N., J. Nucl. Mater. 141-143 (1986) p. 973.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22.Maziasz, P.J., J. Minerals, Metals and Mater., to be published July 1989.Google Scholar
23.Maziasz, P.J., Proc. 45th Annual Meeting of EMSA, edited by Bailey, G.W. (San Francisco Press, CA, 1987) p. 226.Google Scholar
24.Maziasz, P.J. and Swindeman, R.W., in Advances in Materials Technology for Fossil Power Plants, edited by Viswanathan, R. and Jaffee, R.I. (ASM-Int., Metals Park, OH, 1987) p. 283.Google Scholar
25.Swindeman, R.W., Maziasz, P.J., and Judkins, R.R., in 2nd International Conference on Improved Coal-Fired Power Plants, Palo Alto, CA, Nov. 2-4, 1988 (proc. to published by EPRI in 1989).Google Scholar
26.Maziasz, P.J. and Klueh, R.L., in 14th International Symposium on Effects of Radiation on Materials, ASTM-STP (to be published by Am. Soc. for Testing and Mater., Philadelphia, PA in 1989).Google Scholar
27.Conn, R.W.et al., Panel Report on Low Activation Materials for Fusion Applications, UCLA Report PPG-728 (June 1983).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
28.Klueh, R. and Bloom, E.E., in Optimizing Materials for Nuclear Applications, edited by Garner, F.A., Gelles, D.S., and Wiffen, F.W. (TMS-AIME, Warrendale, PA, 1985) p. 73.Google Scholar
29.Doran, D.G., Rowcliffe, A.F., and Mann, F.M., J. Nucl. Mater. 141-143 (1986) p. 1074.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
30.Gold, R.E.et al., Nucl. Technol./Fusion 1 (1981) p. 169.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
31.Maziasz, P.J., J. Nucl. Mater. 133 & 134 (1985) p. 134.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
32.Bloom, E.E.et al., Scripta Met. 10 (1976) p. 303.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
33.Laidler, J.J. and Bennett, J.W., Nucl. Eng. Int. July 1980) p. 31.Google Scholar
34.Hamilton, M.L.et al., Pacific Northwest Laboratory Report PNL-SA-15303 (Aug. 1988).Google Scholar
35.Puigh, R.J., J. Nucl. Mater. 141-143 (1986) p. 954.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
36.Gilbon, D.et al., in Materials for Nuclear Reactor Core Applications, Vol. 1 (BNES, London, 1987) p. 307.Google Scholar
37.Lippens, M.et al., in Materials for Nuclear Reactor Core Applications, Vol. 1 (BNES, London, 1987) p. 177.Google Scholar
38.Itaki, T.et al., in Materials for Nuclear Reactor Core Applications, Vol. 1 (BNES, London, 1987) p. 203.Google Scholar
39.Maziasz, P.J.et al., in Fusion Reactor Materials, Semiannuual Progress Rept. DOE/ER-0313/2 (Sept. 1987) p. 188.Google Scholar
40.Maziasz, P.J. and Zaluzec, N.J., in 40th Annual EMSA Meeting, edited by Bailey, G.W. (Claitor's Publishing Div., Baton Rouge, LA, 1982) p. 498.Google Scholar
41.Maziasz, P.J. and Jitsukawa, S., in ADIP Semiannu. Prog. Rept., DOE/ER-0045/14 (1985) p. 37.Google Scholar
42.Tanaka, M.P.et al., J. Nucl. Mater. 155-157 (1988) p. 801.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
43.Lee, E.H., Maziasz, P.J., and Rowcliffe, A.F., in Phase Stability During Irradiation, edited by Holland, J.R., Mansur, L.K., and Potter, D.I. (TMS-AIME, Warrendale, PA, 1981) p. 191.Google Scholar
44.Lucas, G.E., Odette, G.R., and Rowcliffe, A.F., “Innovations in Testing Methodology for Fusion Reactor Materials Development,” elsewhere in this issue.Google Scholar
45.Grot, A.S. and Spruiell, J.E., Met. Trans. 6A (1975) p. 2023.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
46.Rittenhouse, P.L.et al., Assessment of Materials Needs for Advanced Steam Cycle Coal-Fired Plants, ORNL/M-9735 (Aug. 1985).Google Scholar
47.Swindeman, R.W.et al., Alloy Design Criteria and Evaluation Methods for Advanced Austenitic Alloys for Steam Service, ORNL-6274 (May 1986).Google Scholar
48.Chapman, E.C. and Lorentz, R.E. Jr., Trans. ASME J. of Engineering and Power (Oct. 1960) p. 275.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
49.Murray, J.D., Hacon, J., and Wannell, P.H., in High-Temperature Properties of Steels (ISI Publ. 97, Iron and Steel Institute, London, 1967) p. 403.Google Scholar
50.Wassilew, C., Schneider, W. and Ehrlich, K., Radiat. Eff. 101 (1986) p. 201.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
51.Tamura, M.et al., Promising Alloys for the Heat Exchangers of Advanced Coal Fired Boilers, reprint Metals/Materials Technology Series 8516-007 (ASM, Metals Park, OH, 1985).Google Scholar
52.Swindeman, R.W.et al., Procurement and Screening Test Data for Advanced Austenitic Alloys for 650°C Steam Service (Part 2, Final Report) ORNL/TM-10206/P2 (Aug. 1988).Google Scholar
53.Kesternich, W., in Materials Problem Solving with Transmission Electron Microscopy, edited by Hobbs, L.W., Westmacott, K.H., and Williams, D.B., (Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 62, Pittsburgh, PA, 1986) p. 229.Google Scholar
54.Kesternich, W., Phil. Mag. 52 (1985) p. 533.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
55.Doran, D.G. and Klueh, R.L., “Reduced Activation Alloy Development for Fusion,” elsewhere in this issue.Google Scholar
56.Klueh, R.L. and Maziasz, P.J., in 14th International Symposium on Effects of Radiation on Materials, ASTM-STP (to be published by Am. Soc. for Testing and Mater., Philadelphia, PA in 1989).Google Scholar
57.Klueh, R.L., Maziasz, P.J. and Lee, E.H., Mater. Sci. and Eng. 102 (1988) p. 115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
58.Report of the White House Science Council, Federal Laboratory Review Panel, Office of Science and Technology (May 1983).Google Scholar
59.Horton, L.L., Mechan. Eng., (Sept. 1988) p. 44.Google Scholar
60.Maziasz, P.J., Braski, D.N., and Rowcliffe, A.F., Radiation Resistant Austenitic Stainless Steel Alloys, U.S. Patent No. 4,818,485 (April 1989).Google Scholar