Thermal Aging Embrittlement in LWR Primary Pressure Boundary Components

Two techniques for the verification of the phase separation in ferrite phase of primary pressure bounary component materials, the primary cause of thermal aging embrittlement, are presented. Data base of room-temperature Charpy V-notch impact energy during reactor service was estimated as a measure of the degree of embrittlement. The serviceable period of CF-3 and CF-8 alloys as the primary pressure boundary components may be acceptably extended for 60 years of lifetime. However, the integrity of CF-8M alloys can be degraded seriously after several years of service in the nuclear reactor.