Among the structural materials under consideration for future lead-cooled fastreactors, special attention is paid to ferritic Fe-10Cr-4Al due to its superior corrosionand erosion protective properties, as well as its insensitivity to liquid metalembrittlement in liquid lead. This thesis gives an inside look into the radiation damageproperties of the alloy and the possible embrittlement scenarios. The samples wereirradiated with 5.5 MeV protons and then tested with a slow strain rate testing rig at375oC and 450oC. The results showed that for Fe-10Cr-4Al irradiated to a peak doseof 0.14 dpa, the total elongation to failure was reduced by 3-5%, compared to theunirradiated samples. Moreover, the mechanical properties (yield strength, ultimatetensile strength, and fracture elongation) of the irradiated samples depend stronglyon temperature. The scanning electron microscopy images show no signs of liquidmetal embrittlement. However, the brittle structures at the edges of the samples couldindicate the existence of hydrogen embrittlement. / Bland de strukturmaterial som övervägs för framtida blykylda snabba reaktorer (LFR)ägnas särskild uppmärksamhet åt ferritiska Fe-10Cr-4Al-legeringar på grund av derasöverlägsna korrosionsbeständighet och deras avsaknad av försprödning i den flytandeblymiljön. Denna avhandling ger en inblick i legeringens strålskador och möjligaförsprödningsscenarier. Proverna bestrålades med 5.5 MeV protoner och testadessedan med SSRT-testriggen vid 375oC och 450oC. Resultaten visade att för proverav Fe-10Cr-4Al bestrålat till en dos av 0.14 dpa, minskade den totala förlängningentill brott med 3-5%, jämfört med de obestrålade proverna. Dessutom uppvisar demekaniska egenskaperna (YS, UTS och brottförlängning) hos de bestrålade provernaen större temperaturinverkan. Bilder tagna med svepelektronmikroskopi (SEM)visade inga tecken på flytande metallförsprödning (LME). De spröda strukturerna vidkanterna av proverna, där protonerna implanterades, kan dock indikera förekomstenav väteförsprödning.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de NÃvel Superior / Os aÃos maraging sÃo ligas de ultra-alta resistÃncia com vasta aplicaÃÃo na engenharia, desde vasos de alta pressÃo de operaÃÃo em processos crÃticos, componentes aeronÃuticos, aplicaÃÃes militares atà equipamentos esportivos. O presente trabalho buscou avaliar os efeitos da fragilizaÃÃo por hidrogÃnio no aÃo maraging 18% Ni da classe 300, nas condiÃÃes solubilizada e envelhecida. As amostras foram solubilizadas a 1093 Â10K por 3,6 ks, seguido de um resfriamento ao ar e envelhecidas a 753 e 843 Â10K por 10,8 ks, respectivamente e resfriadas ao ar. Foi realizada uma caracterizaÃÃo microestrutural por difraÃÃo de raios-X, correntes parasitas, medidas de dureza Rockwell e microscopia eletrÃnica e Ãptica. Para avaliar os efeitos do ingresso de hidrogÃnio nas propriedades mecÃnicas do aÃo maraging 18% Ni da classe 300 foram realizados ensaios de traÃÃo com baixa taxa de deformaÃÃo (BTD). A taxa de deformaÃÃo aplicada foi 1,0 x 10-6 s-1. Os ensaios foram realizados ao ar (meio inerte) e em soluÃÃo de 3,5% NaCl sob o potencial catÃdico de -1,2 VECS. Foi observada uma reduÃÃo de 11,06 para 3,89% no alongamento e de 61,28 para 10% na reduÃÃo de Ãrea para as amostras solubilizadas. As amostras envelhecidas a 753 Â10K por 10.8 ks apresentaram maior reduÃÃo nessas propriedades. Nesta condiÃÃo a reduÃÃo observada foi de 1929,26 MPa para amostras ensaiadas ao ar para 447,64 MPa para amostras ensaiadas em soluÃÃo de 3,5% NaCl sob potencial catÃdico no limite de resistÃncia e de 7,30 para 1,62 % no alongamento. As amostras envelhecidas a 843 Â10K, as quais apresentaram de cerca de 10% de austenita sofreram fragilizaÃÃo similar as amostras envelhecidas a 753 Â10K. Trincas secundÃrias perpendiculares a carga aplicada foram observadas nas amostras solubilizadas e ensaiadas em soluÃÃo de 3,5% NaCl sob potencial catÃdico. Os resultados indicam que a presenÃa de precipitados e de austenita revertida impedem a propagaÃÃo de trincas secundÃrias na seÃÃo longitudinal nas condiÃÃes envelhecidas. A anÃlise da superfÃcie de fratura revelou caracterÃstica de uma fratura dÃctil nas amostras ensaiadas ao ar com dimples de diferentes tamanhos e profundidades, enquanto que nas amostras ensaiadas em soluÃÃo de 3,5% NaCl sob potencial catÃdico foram observadas trincas induzidas pelo hidrogÃnio e microcavidades e regiÃes de quase-clivagem para todas as condiÃÃes estudadas. / Maraging steels are ultra high strength alloys widely used in engineering applications from high pressure vessels operating in critical processes, aircraft components, military applications to sports equipment. This work assessed the effects of hydrogen embrittlement in 18% Ni maraging grade 300 steel in the solution annealed and aged conditions. Samples were solution annealed at 1093 Â10K for 3.6 ks, followed by air cooling and aging at 753 and 843 Â10K for 10.8 ks, respectively, and cooled by air. The microstructure was characterized by X-ray diffraction, eddy current, hardness measurement and optical and electron microscopy. To assess the effects of hydrogen ingress on the mechanical properties of 18% Ni maraging grade 300 steel, slow strain rate tests (SSRT) were performed. A strain rate of 1.0x10-6 s-1 was applied. The tests were carried out in air (middle inert) and the samples immersed in the electrolyte at a simultaneous potential of -1.2 VSEC. The results showed the reduction elongation from 11.06 to 3.89% and from 61,28 to 10% in reduction of area for samples in the solution annealed condition. The greatest reductions were observed in the samples aged at 753 Â10K for 10.8 ks. In this condition the reduction from 1929.26 MPa in air tests to 447.64 MPa in ultimate tensile strength and from 7.30 to 1.62% in elongation under cathodic polarization in the 3,5% NaCl solution was observed. The samples aged at 843 Â10K for 10.8 ks, where about 10% of reverted austenite was identified, showed evidence of hydrogen embrittlement as seen in the samples treated at different conditions. Secondary cracks, perpendicular to the loading direction at the longitudinal surface of the solution annealed fractured samples immersed in 3,5% NaCl solution under cathodic potential were seen. The results evidence that the precipitates and reverted austenite difficult secondary crack propagation in longitudinal section on aged samples. Scanning electron examination showed a change in fractografic features from ductile dimples to quasi-cleavage and microvoid modes when comparing samples without (air tested) and with hydrogen ingress.

In this work the susceptibility of Fe-10Cr-4Al steel to liquid metal embitterment (LME)in low oxygen environment was investigated. slow strain rate testing (SSRT) wereconducted on 10-4 FeCrAl steel in a stagnant lead from 340-480◦C, lead-bismutheutectic (LBE) from 140-450◦C and lead-bismuth mixture at 375◦C with increasingbismuth content from 0.1wt%-40wt%. The results showed that in the stagnant leadenvironment the FeCrAl steel showed no sign of LME with all samples being subjectedto around 25% strain before final break. In LBE the samples were affected by LMEespecially at 350-400◦C. The total elongation to failure reduced in LBE from 25%to 13.1% and a ductility trough from 190-400◦C was observed. In the lead-bismuthmixture there was a reduction in ductility at 5wt% going from 25% to 20% totalelongation, at 15wt% going from 20% to 16% total elongation and at 30wt% going from16% to 13% total elongation. / I det här arbetet har stålet Fe-10Cr-4Al känslighet till liquidmetal embrittlemnt(LME)i låga syre miljöer av flytande bly, mellan 340-480 °C, och Bly/Vismut eutektisk (LBE),mellan 140-450 °C, undersökts. En stegvis ökning av Vismut halten i flytande blygenfördes också från 0.1 wt% Bi till 40 wt% Bi med en fast temperatur på 375 °C.Resultaten från dessa experiment visade att i ren bly miljö så visade stålet Fe-10Cr-4Al inga tecken på LME, alla prover gick till brott runt 25% strain. I LBE blev ståletsvårt på verkat av LME, framför allt inom temperaturer intervallet 350-400 °C. Dentotala förlängningen av proverna blev här reducerat från 25% ner till 13.1% och en klarduktilitets tråg mellan 190-400 °C kunde observeras. I experimenten med gradvisökande Vismut halt observerades markanta nedgångar i stålets duktilitet vid 5 wt%Bi då den droppar från 25% till 20% förlängning, nästa dropp observerades vid 15 wt%Bi, 20%-16% och vid 30 wt% Bi med ett reduktion från 16% till 13%.

No description available.