Effect of degree of carburization in sodium of Kh16N15M3B steel on its mechanical properties in different structural states

Results of tension tests of carburized Kh16N15M3B steel samples in the 293-973 K temperature range, are given. Sample carburization is performed in liquid sodium. The samples for tests are in austenized, cold-deformed and aged states. The steel studied reveals loss of ductility in all of the above structural states, which is evidently connected with carbide precipitation at grain boundaries. After carburization up to C=0.85% the Kh16N15M3B steel has a drastically low plasticity in the range of fast reactor operating temperatures. It is recommended to use fuel cans of Kh16N15M3B steel in the cold-deformed state due to higher resistance to minor plastic deformations