A remotely operated FIMEC apparatus for the mechanical characterization ofneutron irradiated materials

From Flat-top Cylinder Indenter for Mechanical Characterization (FIMEC) tes t yield stress and tensile strength can be obtained. Results regarding diff erent materials, most of them of fusion interest, show the general validity of the method. Moreover, indication on the ductile to brittle transition t emperature (DBTT) of martensitic steels has been drawn by performing tests at different temperatures. FIMEC offers the possibility to perform several tests on a small volume of material, e.g. it has been estimated that 18 ind entations can be made on a single disk (Phi = 25 mm, h = 5 mm), For this re ason, its application is of interest to characterize materials irradiated i n the future IFMIF or in other sources. with a limited irradiation volume. A remotely operated apparatus has been designed and costructed to work in h ot cell on irradiated samples. It employs a WC punch (Phi = 1 mm) and can o perate at temperatures in the range between -180 degrees C and +200 degrees C. Details of the apparatus are presented. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.