Jf. Coste et al., Development of a portable device for thermoelectric power measurement: Application to the testing of duplex stainless steel components, MATER EVAL, 59(3), 2001, pp. 401-405
The mechanical characteristics of cast duplex stainless steel components of
the primary loop of pressurized water reactors may decrease as a consequen
ce of thermal aging which causes spinodal decomposition of the ferrite Fe-C
r-Ni solid solution. Previous studies led at EDF in collaboration with INSA
have shown that thermoelectric power (TEP) is a very goad indicator of the
aging state of the component. A new TEP measurement apparatus was develope
d in order to perform measurement in industrial conditions on large steel c
omponents. TEP measurements were made using this instrument and compared to
those obtained using a conventional laboratory device. Finally, the portab
le device was tested with success on a real elbow of a nuclear power plant.