Toward the Introduction of New Processes for the Manufacture of Nuclear Reactor Components

Metallic materials for pressurized water reactor components

Figure 1 - Changes in the dimensions of pressurized water reactor vessels

Figure 2 - Pressurized water reactor vessel and EPR reactor vessel (adapted from [BN 3 732])

Figure 3 - Illustration of macrosegregation in different types of ingots (adapted from [23])

Figure 5 - Fatigue strength reference curve for 16 MND 5 steel

Figure 6 - Changes in phosphorus content at the time of pouring between 1971 and 2007 for 16 MND 5 steel pours produced at the Creusot steelworks (© Framatome)

Figure 7 - Illustration of the embrittlement of PWR reactor vessel steel due to irradiation (adapted from [BN 3 760])

Figure 8 - Forged primary pipe branch with integrated branch connections and elbow

Figure 9 - Diagram of an EPR reactor vessel, showing the internal components made of nitrogen-controlled austenitic stainless steel (© Framatome)

Figure 10 - Macroscopic appearance and intergranular fracture morphology of a cracked work-hardened 316 austenitic stainless steel tank liner screw (reproduced from [BN 3 679])

Figure 11 - Typical microstructure of a cast austenitic-ferritic stainless steel product

Figure 12 - Fe-Cr phase diagram between 400 °C and 800 °C: region of coexistence of the α, α&#039;, and σ phases (adapted from [M 1 155], based on Williams and Paxton [59])

Figure 13 - Effect of ferrite content on the kinetics of toughness degradation in austenitic-ferritic steel (reproduced with permission from Argonne National Laboratory [60])

Figure 14 - Effect of nickel content on susceptibility to high-temperature stress corrosion cracking in pure or chlorinated water for Fe-17%Cr-Ni alloys (adapted from [COR 650])

Figure 15 - Illustration of a susceptible microstructure and a CSC-resistant microstructure in the primary coolant for Alloy 600 (reproduced with permission from EPRI, [68])

Figure 18 - Effect of iron content on the emergence of long-range ordering in Ni-Cr-Fe alloys (reproduced with permission from the AMPP, [64])

Figure 19 - Effect of Chromium Content on the Corrosion-Erosion Rate of Non-Alloy Steels (adapted from [COR 650])