Relationship between microstructure and corrosion of pressure vessel cladding materials

Ranalli, Juan Manuel (2018). Relationship between microstructure and corrosion of pressure vessel cladding materials. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Type 347L and Type 309L stainless steels used as weld cladding materials of nuclear reactor pressure vessels were investigated under realistic conditions of fabrication and service. Electron backscatter diffraction and metallographic observations were used in combination with double loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (DLEPR) test and ASTM-262-A test to determine the precipitation behaviour and its influence on intergranular corrosion (IGC) resistance as a function of post welding heat treatment (PWHT) time at 600 oC and after simulated service ageing at 425 °C.
It was shown that during the first stage of PWHT, M23C6 carbides precipitate in both alloys as a result of δ ferrite decomposition. This increased sensitization of the materials is due to the creation of a chromium-depleted zone, which was found to be replenished after 40 h of treatment, recovering the resistance of the materials to IGC. After combined treatment of PWHT + simulated service, 309L was shown to be re-sensitized whereas 347L remained resistant. Sigma phase was found to precipitate during the last stages of PWHT with a higher tendency on 309L.
Two characteristic reactivation potentials were found for both materials. A specific split-cycle DLEPR was applied to show that this technique can be further developed to identify deleterious phases in austenitic stainless steel welds.
Micro hardness and Charpy impact tests showed an increase in hardness and a decrease in absorbed energy of materials without PWHT after ageing at 425 oC.

Type of Work: Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)
Award Type: Doctorates > Ph.D.
Supervisor(s):
Supervisor(s)EmailORCID
Davenport, AlisonUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Strangwood, MartinUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Licence:
College/Faculty: Colleges (2008 onwards) > College of Engineering & Physical Sciences
School or Department: School of Metallurgy and Materials
Funders: Other
Other Funders: Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Argentina, Roberto Rocca Education Program, The University of Birmingham
Subjects: T Technology > TN Mining engineering. Metallurgy
URI: http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/8333

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