• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.518-524
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• 2016

The thermal aging effects on mechanical properties and microstructures in China low-activation martensitic steel have been tested by aging at $550^{\circ}C$ for 2,000 hours, 4,000 hours, and 10,000 hours. The microstructure was analyzed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the grain size and martensitic lath increased by about $4{\mu}m$ and $0.3{\mu}m$, respectively, after thermal exposure at $550^{\circ}C$ for 10,000 hours. MX type particles such as TaC precipitated on the matrix and Laves-phase was found on the martensitic lath boundary and grain boundary on aged specimens. The mechanical properties were investigated with tensile and Charpy impact tests. Tensile properties were not seriously affected by aging. Neither yield strength nor ultimate tensile strength changed significantly. However, the ductile-brittle transition temperature of China low-activation martensitic steel increased by $46^{\circ}C$ after aging for 10,000 hours due to precipitation and grain coarsening.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.1962-1971
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• 2022

The liquid lead-lithium (Pb-17Li) blanket has many applications in fusion reactors due to its good tritium breeding performance, high heat transfer efficiency and safety. The compatibility of liquid Pb-17Li alloy with the structural material of blanket under magnetic field is one of the concerns. In this study, corrosion experiments China low activation martensitic (CLAM) steel and 316L steel were carried out in a forced convection Pb-17Li loop under 1.0 T magnetic field at 480 ℃ for 1000 h. The corrosion results on 316L steel showed the characteristic with a superficial porous layer resulted from selective leaching of high-soluble alloy elements and subsequent phase transformation from austenitic matrix to ferritic phase. Then the porous layers were eroded by high-velocity jet fluid. The main corrosion mechanism of CLAM steel was selective dissolution-base corrosion attack on the microstructure boundary regions and exclusively on high residual stress areas. CLAM steel performed a better corrosion resistance than that of 316L steel. The high Ni dissolution rate and the erosion of corroded layers are the main causes for the severe corrosion of 316L steel.