Mechanical properties of austenitic steels after corrosion by uranium dioxide and fission product elements

Compatibility tests were carried out with various types of stainless steel and fission product doped overstoichiometric UO2 to investigate the influence of cladding material composition and preliminary treatment on the corrosion. Tensile tests on the corroded steel specimens should give an indication how the mechanical properties of a pin cladding are affected by the chemical interactions with the fuel. The results showed that the depth of corrosion depends essentially on the steel composition; the influence of pretreatment is of secondary importance. Mechanical properties are effected by corrosion to a various degree depending mainly on the composition of the steels. A comparison of reduction in rupture strength and visible zones of attack gave an indication of the relevance of measured penetration depth for an assessment of the load capacity of a fuel cladding after corrosion. (Auth.)