Transmutation-induced embrittlement of vanadium and several vanadium alloys in HFIR

摘要: Abstract Vanadium, V1Ni, V10Ti and V10Ti1Ni (at%) were irradiated in HFIR to doses ranging from 18 30 dpa temperatures between 300 600°C. Since the irradiation was conducted a highly thermalized neutron spectrum without shielding against thermal neutrons, significant levels of chromium (15–22%) formed by transmutation. The addition such large caused strong embrittlement. At higher radiation-induced segregation transmutant Cr solute Ti at specimen surfaces increases density alloy. resultant shrinkage, possibly compounded cycling, led cracks developing all intersections grain boundaries with surface. This specimens 500°C or below often fail during retrieval reactor, as well electropolishing other handling operations. 600°C, cracking embrittlement processes are so severe that only fine dust, composed mostly individual grains chunks grains, found capsule.