The microstructures and mechanical properties of deformed and annealed Nb-containing FeCrAl alloys were investigated. Fine dispersion of Fe2Nb-type Laves phase particles was observed in the bcc-Fe ...matrix after applying a thermomechanical treatment, especially along grain/subgrain boundaries, which effectively stabilized the recovered and recrystallized microstructures compared with the Nb-free FeCrAl alloy. The stability of recovered areas increased with Nb content up to 1 wt%. The recrystallized grain structure in Nb-containing FeCrAl alloys consisted of elongated grains along the rolling direction with a weak texture when annealed below 1100 °C. An abnormal relationship between recrystallized grain size and annealing temperature was found. Microstructural inhomogeneity in the deformed and annealed states was explained based on the Taylor factor. Annealed Nb-containing FeCrAl alloys showed a good combination of strength and ductility, which is desirable for their application as fuel cladding in light-water reactors.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
The Fe–Cr–Al alloy system has the potential to form an important class of enhanced accident-tolerant cladding materials in the nuclear power industry owing to the alloy system's higher oxidation ...resistance in high-temperature steam environments compared with traditional zirconium-based alloys. However, radiation tolerance of Fe–Cr–Al alloys has not been fully established. In this study, a series of Fe–Cr–Al alloys with 10–18 wt % Cr and 2.9–4.9 wt % Al were neutron irradiated at 382 °C to 1.8 dpa to investigate the irradiation-induced microstructural and mechanical property evolution as a function of alloy composition. Dislocation loops with Burgers vector of a/2〈111〉 and a〈100〉 were detected and quantified. Results indicate precipitation of Cr-rich α′ is primarily dependent on the bulk chromium composition. Mechanical testing of sub-size-irradiated tensile specimens indicates the hardening response seen after irradiation is dependent on the bulk chromium composition. A structure–property relationship was developed; it indicated that the change in yield strength after irradiation is caused by the formation of these radiation-induced defects and is dominated by the large number density of Cr-rich α′ precipitates at sufficiently high chromium contents after irradiation.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
The development and understanding of the mechanical properties of neutron-irradiated FeCrAl alloys is increasingly a critical need as these alloys continue to become more mature for nuclear reactor ...applications. This study focuses on the mechanical properties of model FeCrAl alloys and of a commercial FeCrAl alloy neutron-irradiated to up to 13.8 displacements per atom (dpa) at irradiation temperatures between 320 and 382 °C. Tensile tests were completed at room temperature and at 320 °C, and a subset of fractured tensile specimens was examined by scanning electron microscopy. Results showed typical radiation hardening and embrittlement indicative of high chromium ferritic alloys with strong chromium composition dependencies at lower doses. At and above 7.0 dpa, the mechanical properties saturated for both the commercial and model FeCrAl alloys, although brittle cleavage fracture was observed at the highest dose in the model FeCrAl alloy with the highest chromium content (18 wt %). The results suggest the composition and microstructure of FeCrAl alloys plays a critical role in the mechanical response of FeCrAl alloys irradiated near temperatures relevant to light water reactors.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
FeCrAl alloys with varying compositions and microstructures are under consideration for accident-tolerant fuel cladding, but limited details exist on dislocation loop formation and growth for this ...class of alloys under neutron irradiation. Four model FeCrAl alloys with chromium contents ranging from 10.01 to 17.51 wt % and aluminum contents of 4.78 to 2.93 wt % were neutron irradiated to doses of 0.3–0.8 displacements per atom (dpa) at temperatures of 335–355 °C. On-zone STEM imaging revealed a mixed population of black dots and larger dislocation loops with either a/2〈111〉 or a〈100〉 Burgers vectors. Weak composition dependencies were observed and varied depending on whether the defect size, number density, or ratio of defect types was of interest. Results were found to mirror those of previous studies on FeCrAl and FeCr alloys irradiated under similar conditions, although distinct differences exist.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Realizing application specific manufacture with fusion-based additive manufacturing (F-BAM) processes requires understanding of the physical phenomena that drive evolution of microstructural ...attributes, such as texture. Current approaches for understanding texture evolution in F-BAM are majorly considerate of the phenomena occurring only during solidification. This hinders the comprehensive understanding and control of texture during F-BAM. In this perspective article, we discuss several physical phenomena occurring during and after solidification that can determine texture in F-BAM processed stainless steels (SS). A crystal plasticity-coupled hydrogen adsorption-diffusion modeling framework is also leveraged to demonstrate the prospects of grain boundary engineering with F-BAM for enhanced hydrogen embrittlement resistance of SS. Implications of varying thermokinetics in F-BAM for solidification behavior of SS are discussed. Additionally, microstructural attributes that are key to high temperature mechanical performance of SS are highlighted. Considerations as outlined in this perspective article will enable grain boundary engineering and application specific microstructural design of SS with F-BAM.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Ferritic-structured Fe–Cr–Al alloys are being developed and show promise as oxidation resistant accident tolerant light water reactor fuel cladding. This study focuses on investigating the ...weldability and post-weld mechanical behavior of three model alloys in a range of Fe–(13–17.5)Cr–(3–4.4)Al (wt.%) with a minor addition of yttrium using modern laser-welding techniques. A detailed study on the mechanical performance of bead-on-plate welds using sub-sized, flat dog-bone tensile specimens and digital image correlation (DIC) has been carried out to determine the performance of welds as a function of alloy composition. Results indicated a reduction in the yield strength within the fusion zone compared to the base metal. Yield strength reduction was found to be primarily constrained to the fusion zone due to grain coarsening with a less severe reduction in the heat affected zone. For all proposed alloys, laser welding resulted in a defect free weld devoid of cracking or inclusions.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
FeCrAl alloys are an attractive class of materials for nuclear power applications because of their increased environmental compatibility compared with more traditional nuclear materials. Preliminary ...studies into the radiation tolerance of FeCrAl alloys under accelerated neutron testing between 300 and 400 °C have shown post-irradiation microstructures containing dislocation loops and a Cr-rich α′ phase. Although these initial studies established the post-irradiation microstructures, there was little to no focus on understanding the influence of pre-irradiation microstructures on this response. In this study, a well-annealed commercial FeCrAl alloy, Alkrothal 720, was neutron irradiated to 1.8 displacements per atom (dpa) at 382 °C and then the effect of random high-angle grain boundaries on the spatial distribution and size of a〈100〉 dislocation loops, a/2〈111〉 dislocation loops, and black dot damage was analyzed using on-zone scanning transmission electron microscopy. Results showed a clear heterogeneous dislocation loop formation with a/2〈111〉 dislocation loops showing an increased number density and size, black dot damage showing a significant number density decrease, and a〈100〉 dislocation loops exhibiting an increased size in the vicinity of the grain boundary. These results suggest the importance of the pre-irradiation microstructure and, specifically, defect sink density spacing to the radiation tolerance of FeCrAl alloys.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Creep-rupture properties and oxidation behavior of a series of alumina-forming austenitic (AFA) alloys with variations of Cr contents, based on Fe-(13.5-18)Cr-25Ni-4Al-1.5Nb-0.1C in weight percent, ...have been evaluated at 850–900 °C. The study investigates material responses in the properties and microstructure through compositional modifications in AFA alloys, targeting performance optimization of alloys under high-temperature, corrosive industrial environments. The creep-rupture life of the alloys at 850 °C and 30MPa monotonically decreased with increasing Cr content, which was correlated with changes in secondary phase volume fractions, such as the reduction in B2-NiAl + Laves-Fe2Nb and increase in Sigma-FeCr with Cr content. The oxidation test at 900 °C in a water-vapor containing environment revealed a range of Cr content from 13.9 to 15.7 wt.%, enabling the formation of stable, protective external alumina scale as well as preventing internal oxidation/nitridation for up to total 7000 h exposure. On the other hand, the alloys with >16.7 wt.% Cr formed Sigma precipitates, which caused a reduction in not only Cr but also Al in the austenite matrix, resulting in less oxidation resistance than other alloys. The findings will guide the further optimization of material performance in the AFA alloy series.
Future, flexible thermal energy conversion systems require new, demand-optimized high-performance materials. The High performance Ferritic (HiperFer) stainless steels, under development at the ...Institute of Microstructure and Properties of Materials (IEK-2) at Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH in Germany, provide a balanced combination of fatigue, creep and corrosion resistance at reasonable price. This paper outlines the scientific background of alloy performance development, which resulted in an age-hardening ferritic, stainless steel grade. Furthermore, technological properties are addressed and the potential concerning application is estimated by benchmarking versus conventional state of the art materials.
Through this paper, we aimed to describe the new concept of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from aseptic processing equipment as well as the concept and prospects of a non-thermal ...sterilization system (called GREEN ASEPTIC) combining medium-pressure (MP) ultraviolet lamps and filtration sterilization. Considering that filterable bacteria can pass through a sterile filter with a pore size of 0.2 μm, filtration sterilization has not been adopted in aseptic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle filling systems for low-acid beverages. Therefore, we examined the ultraviolet (UV) sensitivity of twelve types of filterable bacteria and Bacillus atrophaeus spores via bench-scale collimated beam testing. The results showed that the UV resistance of the filterable microbes was about half or less that of B. atrophaeus spores. Additionally, the UV light emitted via MP lamps was more effective for the disinfection of these bacteria under our experimental conditions than low-pressure (LP) lamps. The sterilization effect on B. atrophaeus spores was also verified at 80 mJ/cm2 with Atlantium's MP lamps. The addition of 1×107 colony-forming units of B. atrophaeus spores to pure water at a flow rate of 18 m3/h killed all the spores, with a more than 7-log reduction value.These results suggest that the combination of MP lamps and filtration sterilization can produce sterile liquids of the same quality as those produced by ultra-high- temperature (UHT) sterilizers and can be expected to significantly reduce CO2 emissions from aseptic processing equipment.
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