Irradiation examination of CuNiCrSi alloy for ITER applications

Precipitation-hardened CuNiCrSi alloy was studied after the following treat ments: (1) solution annealing, cold working and aging; (2) solution anneali ng and aging; (3) thermal simulation of diffusion bonding and annealing, In the first and second conditions, specimens were irradiated in the IVV-2M r eactor to a dose of similar to 0.35 dpa at 300 degrees C. In the third cond ition, specimens were exposed to a dose of similar to 0.2 dpa at 80 degrees C, 200 degrees C and 300 degrees C. Results of irradiation tests performed at 300 degrees C show that irradiation to a dose of similar to 0.35 dpa ca use loss of strength and embrittlement of the CuNiCrSi alloy in a high-stre ngth state. The alloy in the third state becomes highly resistant to radiat ion embrittlement. Exposure at 200 degrees C and 300 degrees C to a dose of similar to 0.2 dpa results in a substantial increase in the electrical con ductivity of this material. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.