Electrochemical investigation of in-service thermal aging in two CF8M cast stainless steels

Caitlin Huotilainen (Corresponding Author), Mykola Ivanchenko, Pål Efsing, Ulla Ehrnsten

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    4 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In-service thermal aging of CF8M cast austenitic stainless steel was investigated in materials removed from the steam generator inlet and crossover elbows of the Ringhals 2 pressurized water reactor nuclear power plant unit after approximately 92kh of full operating time. The thermal aging of these materials was investigated using the double loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation method, coupled with indentation hardness measurements and microstructural characterizations, to identify correlations between the electrochemical behavior and traditional methods of investigating thermal aging embrittlement effects in cast stainless steels. While this electrochemical method can be easily employed to quantify thermal aging effects in materials aged at higher temperatures (e.g. greater than 350∘C), this study highlights the difficulties encountered when electrochemically evaluating the aging of materials exposed to nuclear power plant operating conditions.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)34-40
    Number of pages7
    JournalJournal of Nuclear Materials
    Volume520
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jul 2019
    MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

    Keywords

    • cast stainless steel
    • double loop electochemical potentiokinetic reactivation
    • G-phase
    • nanoindentation
    • spinodal decomposition
    • thermal aging

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Electrochemical investigation of in-service thermal aging in two CF8M cast stainless steels'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this