Abstract
We investigate the influence of neutron irradiation on the fracture-mechanical behaviour of ITER- specification conform stress relieved tungsten bar. The neutron irradiation of miniaturized Disc-shaped Compact Tension specimens with electrical discharge machined notches was performed in the Material Testing High Flux BR2 reactor of SCK CEN in Mol. Damage doses close to 1 dpa were achieved at multiple irradiation temperatures of 40 0, 60 0 and 10 0 0 °C. Suppression of thermal neutrons fluence by applying stainless steel capsules resulted in reduction of Re (Os) content down to fusion application relevant level of 2 at% (0.2 at%). Neutron irradiation strongly impacted fracture-mechanical behaviour of the material. Depending on the irradiation temperature, the DBTT increases by about 650 °C or even higher as has been deduced on the basis of the load-displacement curve analysis. The degradation of the mechanical proper- ties is attributed to the alteration of the microstructure and fracture mode. The results are compared with the fracture-mechanical data on irradiated tungsten obtained previously in the course of same neutron irradiation campaign.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 153200 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-6 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Nuclear Materials |
Volume | 556 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 19 Jul 2021 |