Effect of temperature changes on swelling and creep of AISI 316

A number of previous publications have shown that the swelling of cold-worked AISI 316 is quite sensitive to changes in temperature which occur during irradiation. In this report those data are expanded and reanalyzed to show that the concurrent irradiation creep is also quite sensitive to changes in irradiation temperature. An explanation is advanced to explain this behavior in terms of the sensitivity to temperture history of the radiation-induced microchemical evolution of this steel. In particular, the sensitivity to temperature history of the radiation-stabilized gamma prime phase is invoked to explain the enhanced creep and swelling behavior of AISI 316 components which experienced either gradual or abrupt decreases in temperature. The phase development observed in this steel in response to temperature changes during irradiation is also compared to the similar behavior found in aged specimens subjected to isothermal irradiation