Irradiation embrittlement of model alloys and commercial steels: analysis of similitude behaviors

Copper and phosphorus effect on residual embrittlement of irradiated model alloys and RPV steels after annealing

“…The influence of phosphorus and copper contents on VVER-440 RPV materials, DT res K , as revealed by this study, is in agreement with the conclusions obtained from data of 3D probe investigations of irradiated and annealed VVER-440 RPV steels [3,5,13]. In these works it has in fact been shown that after annealing of irradiated VVER-440 RPV steels copper was found in the precipitates.…”

“…This can be done qualitatively with atom probe studies and TEM analysis [3][4][5]. For typical annealing conditions of VVER-440 materials, it is observed that during annealing, copper precipitates do not massively re-dissolve back into the matrix but they grow larger, decreasing their density.…”

Role of nickel in a semi-mechanistic analytical model for radiation embrittlement of model alloys

“…The material composition, the full description of the irradiation campaign and the obtained results are given in [5]. Such model alloys already demonstrated to be a good qualitative representation of the materials used in Russian reactors VVER-440 [6] even if they may differ quantitatively in terms of higher response to radiation at relatively lower fluence. A second set of model alloys has been irradiated in Kola Nuclear Power Plant (Russia) at higher fluences, the data became recently available.…”

A preliminary evaluation of irradiation damage in model alloys by electric properties based techniques

“…The materials tested were Model Alloys provided by the Kurchatov Institute, covering a large spectrum of compositions typical of ferritic steel with parametric variation of copper, nickel and phosphorus, elements known to play a significant role in material sensitivity to irradiation [3] Typical composition ranges used are: Ni 0 -2%, P 0-0.04% and Cu up to 1%, Mn 0.4%, low S and balance content of Fe. Table 1 shows the Cu, Ni, P and other element contents.…”