Proton irradiation induced phase transformation in AISI 304L stainless steel

Radiation-enhanced and -induced phases precipitation, radiation-induced solute segregation and radiation-induced preferential sputtering have been observed in the irradiated stainless steels. Austenite(γ) to ferrite(α) phase transformation has been reported in austenitic stainless steels following neutron- and ion-irradiation, long-term thermal aging and mechanical deformation. Irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) has recently become an important issue related to cracking of in-core components in Light Water Reactors (LWR's). It therefore leads to a possibility that the IASCC susceptibility may be related to the austenite stability of stainless steel. The lacks of neutron irradiation environments, preparation and testing equipment, and sufficient time and expense force the use of ion-irradiating simulation experiments for fission and fusion materials research and development. The purpose of this study is to investigate the proton irradiation-induced phase transformation (γ→α) phenomenon in commercial purity AISI 304L austenitic stainless steel and the influences on its intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) susceptibility