Low temperature crack propagation of nickel-based weld metals in hydrogenated PWR primary water

The effect of hydrogenated PWR primary water on the Low Temperature Crack Propagation (LTCP) susceptibility of nickel based weld metals Alloy 182, 82, 152 and 52 was studied performing J-R -tests at a slow displacement rate in simulated low temperature PWR primary water. When tested in an environment with high hydrogen content (100 cm3 H2/kg H2O), all the studied materials showed a remarkable decrease in the fracture toughness (JIC or JQ) values compared with the air test results. Alloy 182 showed the lowest average fracture toughness values in each test environment. The results obtained at a lower hydrogen content (~30 cm3 H2/kg H2O) suggest, that Alloy 182 is the most susceptible nickel based weld metal to LTCP, especially at low hydrogen contents. Intergranular cracking was predominant when the JIC value was low. Test results of pure weld metal Alloys 182 and 52 were also compared with the results of dissimilar metal weld (DMW) specimens of Alloy 182 and 52. The pure weld metals were substantially more susceptible to LTCP than the DMW specimens. Pre-exposure to high temperature hydrogenated water did not affect the fracture toughness of any of the test materials. The degradation in toughness is assumed to be caused by a hydrogen-induced intergranular cracking mechanism, where the precipitates in the weld metals acting as hydrogen trapping sites play an important role. The LTCP susceptibility of the studied alloys is discussed based on the present hydrogen embrittlement mechanisms.