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Acceleration Of Long-Range Ordering in NiCrFe Alloys Using Proton Irradiation

The extension of nuclear reactor lifetimes beyond 40 years requires the qualification of plant components to ensure performance past their initial design requirements. Nickel-based alloys containing chromium (NiCr) are of concern at these extended lifetimes, as these types of alloys form an embrittling precipitate phase. Below a critical temperature—which is above the normal 300-400⁰C reactor operating temperatures—NiCr alloys form a stable, fully coherent MoPt2-typelong-range ordered (LRO) phase with stoichiometry Ni2Cr.

Product Number: ED22-18352-SG
Author: Cole Evered, Nicholas Aerne, David J. Sprouster, Julie D. Tucker
Publication Date: 2022
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This work explores the hypothesis that proton irradiation is a feasible alternative to simulate accelerated thermal aging for Ni2Cr long-range ordered phase formation within NiCr alloys, specifically in commercial alloy 690. In this study, alloys 690 and 690+P (0.01 wt.% P), and a model NiCr alloy with 10 wt.% Fe were subject to 2 MeV proton irradiation to 1.5 dpa at 350⁰C. Identical alloys were isothermally aged for up to 10,000 hours at temperatures ranging from 330-475⁰C. Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis of both the irradiated and thermally aged samples determined phase fractions and precipitate sizes of the Ni2Cr phase, as well as the change in matrix lattice parameter. Initial Vickers hardness data showed less than 15 HV change for any of the alloy after 10,000 hours. XRD analysis showed formation of Ni2Cr within irradiated 690+P and model alloy, but not 690, and showed no formation of Ni2Cr in any thermally aged alloy. P is found to play a large role in the acceleration of Ni2Cr formation in alloy 690 under irradiation, and minor alloying elements in 690 may help slow Ni2Cr formation. Based on the comparison between Ni2Cr phase formation in the irradiated and thermally aged samples we find proton irradiation accelerates ordering by at least 40x for model alloys.

This work explores the hypothesis that proton irradiation is a feasible alternative to simulate accelerated thermal aging for Ni2Cr long-range ordered phase formation within NiCr alloys, specifically in commercial alloy 690. In this study, alloys 690 and 690+P (0.01 wt.% P), and a model NiCr alloy with 10 wt.% Fe were subject to 2 MeV proton irradiation to 1.5 dpa at 350⁰C. Identical alloys were isothermally aged for up to 10,000 hours at temperatures ranging from 330-475⁰C. Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis of both the irradiated and thermally aged samples determined phase fractions and precipitate sizes of the Ni2Cr phase, as well as the change in matrix lattice parameter. Initial Vickers hardness data showed less than 15 HV change for any of the alloy after 10,000 hours. XRD analysis showed formation of Ni2Cr within irradiated 690+P and model alloy, but not 690, and showed no formation of Ni2Cr in any thermally aged alloy. P is found to play a large role in the acceleration of Ni2Cr formation in alloy 690 under irradiation, and minor alloying elements in 690 may help slow Ni2Cr formation. Based on the comparison between Ni2Cr phase formation in the irradiated and thermally aged samples we find proton irradiation accelerates ordering by at least 40x for model alloys.