High-strength corrosion-resistant candidate nuclear waste containers

Austenitic steels with high nitrogen content (up to 1%) offer excellent corrosion resistance and high strength and toughness properties. Such characteristics make these steels strong candidates for nuclear waste containers which are required to withstand corrosive media, high temperatures and high pressures for extremely long times. A commercially available steel was modified by increasing its nitrogen content. Measurements of the critical pitting temperature and pitting potential have demonstrated the superior corrosion resistance of this steel with respect to a number of similar alloys. Brief details are given of the production of a cylinder of the material. (3 figures, 2 tables, 4 references). (UK)