TY - GEN
T1 - The influence of irradiation-induced microstructure on the hardening of RPV steels
AU - Lambrecht, Marlies
AU - Al Mazouzi, Abderrahim
N1 - Score = 3
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The hardening and embrittlement of RPV steels has been investigated for many years. Nowadays, a consensus is reached assuming a two-component hardening model of copper-enriched clusters and matrix damage. Nevertheless, despite being the subject of significant research efforts, it is still a debatable question, whether a linear or quadratic superposition law is appropriate. The inaccuracy of either choice might be the effect of the existence of different populations of defects, as every defect contributes to the hardening in a particular way.
In this work, a correlation on model alloys is attempted between experimental results on microstructure and a theoretical prediction of the hardening, where each defect is defined by a specific pinning strength. It is found that loops are very strong defects, but due to their low concentration, they only play a minor role in the hardening itself. For the precipitates, the contrary is found, although they are quite soft (due to their very low sizes), they still play the dominant role in the hardening due to their high density. Vacancy clusters are important for the formation of the former two defects, but they will play almost no role in the hardening by themselves.
AB - The hardening and embrittlement of RPV steels has been investigated for many years. Nowadays, a consensus is reached assuming a two-component hardening model of copper-enriched clusters and matrix damage. Nevertheless, despite being the subject of significant research efforts, it is still a debatable question, whether a linear or quadratic superposition law is appropriate. The inaccuracy of either choice might be the effect of the existence of different populations of defects, as every defect contributes to the hardening in a particular way.
In this work, a correlation on model alloys is attempted between experimental results on microstructure and a theoretical prediction of the hardening, where each defect is defined by a specific pinning strength. It is found that loops are very strong defects, but due to their low concentration, they only play a minor role in the hardening itself. For the precipitates, the contrary is found, although they are quite soft (due to their very low sizes), they still play the dominant role in the hardening due to their high density. Vacancy clusters are important for the formation of the former two defects, but they will play almost no role in the hardening by themselves.
KW - Irradiation-induced hardening
KW - Model alloys
KW - RPV steel
UR - http://ecm.sckcen.be/OTCS/llisapi.dll/open/ezp_102018
U2 - 10.1115/ICONE17-75109
DO - 10.1115/ICONE17-75109
M3 - In-proceedings paper
SN - 978-0-7918-3852-5
T3 - Student Paper Competition
SP - 289
EP - 293
BT - ICONE17
CY - Belgium
T2 - ICONE 2009 - 17th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering
Y2 - 12 July 2009 through 16 July 2009
ER -