Tensile and low-cycle fatigue properties of solution annealed type 316L stainless steel plate and TIG-weld exposed to 5 dpa at low-temperature (42 degrees C)

The austenitic stainless steel type AISI 316L was selected as the main stru ctural material of the next-step International thermonuclear experimental r eactor (ITER) fusion device, i.e., the first wall, blanket modules, and vac uum vessel components. Although this steel was extensively investigated und er different aspects, most results concern irradiation temperatures above 3 00 degreesC. In the present work, tensile and fatigue specimens were irradi ated in the BR2 materials testing reactor at 42 degreesC up to a maximum ne utron fluence of 8 x 10(21) n/cm(2) (E > 0.1 MeV), corresponding to 5 dpa. The European reference AISI 316L in the solution annealed condition and the TIG-metal deposit were tested in the baseline and irradiated conditions. T he tensile specimens were tested at 25 degreesC, 250 degreesC and 450 degre esC, while the low-cycle fatigue tests were performed at room temperature. The tensile test results obtained in this work are consistent with publishe d data: substantial radiation hardening combined with some reduction of elo ngation No specimen orientation effect could be evidenced. The amount of ha rdening decreases with increasing test temperature. By contrast, the low-cy cle fatigue data show no or little effect of irradiation, independent from irradiation and testing conditions. No major difference was found between t he plate and the weld metal. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.