Microstructural investigation of IASCC crack tips extracted from thimble tube O-ring specimens

Aäron Penders; Milan Konstantinovic; T. Yang; Rik-Wouter Bosch; Dominique Schryvers; Frédéric Somville

doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2022.153727

Microstructural investigation of IASCC crack tips extracted from thimble tube O-ring specimens

Aäron Penders, Milan Konstantinovic, T. Yang, Rik-Wouter Bosch, Dominique Schryvers, Frédéric Somville

Microstructural and Non-destructive Analysis

Research output › peer-review

Abstract

The microstructural features of intergranular irradiation-assisted stress corrosion crack tips from a redeemed neutron-irradiated flux thimble tube (60 dpa) have been investigated using focused-ion beam analysis and (scanning) transmission electron microscopy. The current work presents a close examination of the deformation field and oxide assembly associated with intergranular cracking, in addition to the analysis of radiation-induced segregation at leading grain boundaries. Evidence of stress induced martensitic transformation extending from the crack tips is presented. Intergranular crack arrest is demonstrated on the account of the external tensile stress orientation, and as a consequence of MnS inclusion particles segregating close to the fractured grain boundary. Exclusive observations of grain boundary oxidation prior to the cracking are presented, which is in full-agreement with the internal oxidation model.

Original language	English
Article number	153727
Pages (from-to)	1-16
Number of pages	16
Journal	Journal of Nuclear Materials
Volume	565
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2022.153727
State	Published - Jul 2022

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Cite this

@article{d723a86468224d9d99c04e763e35b788,

title = "Microstructural investigation of IASCC crack tips extracted from thimble tube O-ring specimens",

abstract = "The microstructural features of intergranular irradiation-assisted stress corrosion crack tips from a redeemed neutron-irradiated flux thimble tube (60 dpa) have been investigated using focused-ion beam analysis and (scanning) transmission electron microscopy. The current work presents a close examination of the deformation field and oxide assembly associated with intergranular cracking, in addition to the analysis of radiation-induced segregation at leading grain boundaries. Evidence of stress induced martensitic transformation extending from the crack tips is presented. Intergranular crack arrest is demonstrated on the account of the external tensile stress orientation, and as a consequence of MnS inclusion particles segregating close to the fractured grain boundary. Exclusive observations of grain boundary oxidation prior to the cracking are presented, which is in full-agreement with the internal oxidation model.",

keywords = "IASCC, SS316L, Neutron-irradiation, Flux thimble tube, Internal oxidation, FIB, TEM",

author = "A{\"a}ron Penders and Milan Konstantinovic and T. Yang and Rik-Wouter Bosch and Dominique Schryvers and Fr{\'e}d{\'e}ric Somville",

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year = "2022",

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doi = "10.1016/j.jnucmat.2022.153727",

language = "English",

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journal = "Journal of Nuclear Materials",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Microstructural investigation of IASCC crack tips extracted from thimble tube O-ring specimens

AU - Penders, Aäron

AU - Konstantinovic, Milan

AU - Yang, T.

AU - Bosch, Rik-Wouter

AU - Schryvers, Dominique

AU - Somville, Frédéric

N1 - Score=10

PY - 2022/7

Y1 - 2022/7

N2 - The microstructural features of intergranular irradiation-assisted stress corrosion crack tips from a redeemed neutron-irradiated flux thimble tube (60 dpa) have been investigated using focused-ion beam analysis and (scanning) transmission electron microscopy. The current work presents a close examination of the deformation field and oxide assembly associated with intergranular cracking, in addition to the analysis of radiation-induced segregation at leading grain boundaries. Evidence of stress induced martensitic transformation extending from the crack tips is presented. Intergranular crack arrest is demonstrated on the account of the external tensile stress orientation, and as a consequence of MnS inclusion particles segregating close to the fractured grain boundary. Exclusive observations of grain boundary oxidation prior to the cracking are presented, which is in full-agreement with the internal oxidation model.

AB - The microstructural features of intergranular irradiation-assisted stress corrosion crack tips from a redeemed neutron-irradiated flux thimble tube (60 dpa) have been investigated using focused-ion beam analysis and (scanning) transmission electron microscopy. The current work presents a close examination of the deformation field and oxide assembly associated with intergranular cracking, in addition to the analysis of radiation-induced segregation at leading grain boundaries. Evidence of stress induced martensitic transformation extending from the crack tips is presented. Intergranular crack arrest is demonstrated on the account of the external tensile stress orientation, and as a consequence of MnS inclusion particles segregating close to the fractured grain boundary. Exclusive observations of grain boundary oxidation prior to the cracking are presented, which is in full-agreement with the internal oxidation model.

KW - IASCC

KW - SS316L

KW - Neutron-irradiation

KW - Flux thimble tube

KW - Internal oxidation

KW - FIB

KW - TEM

UR - https://ecm.sckcen.be/OTCS/llisapi.dll/open/52135034

U2 - 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2022.153727

DO - 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2022.153727

M3 - Article

SN - 0022-3115

VL - 565

SP - 1

EP - 16

JO - Journal of Nuclear Materials

JF - Journal of Nuclear Materials

M1 - 153727

ER -