Microstructure in HIP-bonded F82H steel and its mechanical properties after irradiation

A first primary blanket structure is composed of the low-activation steel, e.g. F82H, and is fabricated by using a solid hot isostatic pressing (HIP) bonding method. A partial mock-up of such a blanket structure was successfully fabricated. The tensile specimen including HIP-bonded region possessed a sufficient strength and elongation under a non-irradiated condition as reported in our previous studies. In this study, the microstructures of HIP interface before irradiation were observed by a TEM, and the effects of irradiation on mechanical properties of the HIP-bonded region were also examined. TEM observation and elemental analysis of the HIP-bonded region before the irradiation were performed by using a FE-TEM of HF-2000 equipped with EDX spectroscopy. Tensile specimens (type SS-3) were prepared from a HIP-bonded region and a plate region of the mock-up block. Neutron irradiation was performed up to about 1.9 dpa at about 523 K in JMTR. After the irradiation, tensile test was performed at temperatures of 295 and 523 K. After the tensile test, OM observation at the rupture region and SEM observation at the fracture surface were conducted, respectively. TEM observation and analytical results revealed that the HIP interface possessed many precipitates, and enriched peak spectrum of chromium was detected from the precipitates. In addition, aspect of the spectrum was qualitatively equivalent to that of M23C6 in grain boundaries of F82H steel. In result, the HIP boundary has many M23C6 which were generally seen in grain boundaries of F82H steel, and it can be mentioned that the HIP interface is, in this sense, a new grain boundary. Obvious HIP boundary was seen at rupture region of tensile specimens sampled from the HIP-bonded region, by the macroscopic observation. It means that rupture do not occur in the HIP interface. In result, it can be mentioned that bondability of the HIP interfaces is kept under the irradiation and testing conditions. The strength and elongation of the HIP-bonded region and plate region decreased somewhat in comparison with the results of an IEA standard steel, at all test temperature. (author)