• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.361-366
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• 2021

Localized corrosion behavior of Ni-based Inconel 718 alloy was investigated by electrochemical anodic polarization techniques in NACE TM 0177 A solution of 5 wt% NaCl + 0.5 wt% acetic acid at room temperature. After the solution heat treated at 1080 ℃ for 2.5 h, Inconel 718 was age-hardened at 780 ℃ for 8 h. The microstructure of the alloy surface was investigated by optical microscopic or scanning electron microscopic technique. The austenitic phase with the presence of metal carbides was observed on the surface of Inconel 718. Metal-carbides such as Nb-Mo and Ti-carbide with diameters of approximately 10 and 3 ㎛, respectively, were formed in Inconel 718. Anodic polarization results revealed that localized corrosion was observed at the interface between austenitic phase of a substrate and metal carbides. Difference in electrochemical property between a metal carbide and an austenitic substrate could provide an initiation site for localized corrosion of Inconel 718 surface.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.709-731
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• 2022

Loss of fracture resistance due to thermal aging degradation is a potential limiting factor affecting the long-term (80+ year) viability of nuclear reactors. To evaluate the effects of decades of aging in a practical time frame, accelerated aging must be employed prior to mechanical characterization. In this study, a variety of chemically and microstructurally diverse austenitic stainless steels were aged between 0 and 30,000 h at 290-400 ℃ to simulate 0-80+ years of operation. Over 600 static fracture tests were carried out between room temperature and 400 ℃. The results presented include selected J-R curves of each material as well as K_0.2mm fracture toughness values mapped against aging condition and ferrite content in order to display any trends related to those variables. Results regarding differences in processing, optimal ferrite content under light aging, and the relationship between test temperature and Mo content were observed. Overall, it was found that both the ferrite volume fraction and molybdenum content had significant effects on thermal degradation susceptibility. It was determined that materials with >25 vol% ferrite are unlikely to be viable for 80 years, particularly if they have high Mo contents (>2 wt%), while materials less than 15 vol% ferrite are viable regardless of Mo content.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.8
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• pp.2755-2770
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• 2022

The need for Dissimilar Welded Joint (DWJ) in the power plant components arises in order to increase the overall efficiency of the plant and to avoid premature failure in the component welds. The Activated-Tungsten Inert Gas (A-TIG) welding process, which is a variant of Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding, is focus of this review work concerning the DWJ of nuclear grade creep-strength enhanced ferritic/martensitic (CSEF/M) steels and austenitic steels. A-TIG DWJs are compared with Multipass-Tungsten Inert Gas (M-TIG) DWJ based on their mechanical and microstructural properties. The limitations of multipass welding have put A-TIG welding in focus as A-TIG provides a weld with increased depth of penetration (DOP) and enhanced mechanical properties. Hence, this review article covers the A-TIG welding principle and working parameters along with detailed analysis of role played by the flux in welding procedure. Further, weld characteristics of martensitic and austenitic steel DWJ developed with the A-TIG welding process and the M-TIG welding process are compared in this study as there are differences in mechanical, microstructural, creep-related, and residual stress obtained in both TIG variants. The mechanics involved in the welding process is deliberated which is revealed by microstructural changes and behavior of base metals and WFZ.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.138-146
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• 2022

The cavitation and potentiodynamic polarization experiments were conducted simultaneously to investigate the effect of cavitation amplitude on the super austenitic stainless steel (UNS N08367) electrochemical behavior in seawater. The results of the potentiodynamic polarization experiment under cavitation condition showed that the corrosion current density increased with cavitation amplitude increase. Above oxygen evolution potential, the current density in a static condition was the largest because the anodic dissolution reaction by intergranular corrosion was promoted. In the static condition, intergranular corrosion was mainly observed. However, damage caused by erosion was observed in the cavitation environment. The micro-jet generated by cavity collapse destroyed the corrosion product and promoted the repassivation. So, weight loss occurred the most in static conditions. After the experiment, wave patterns were formed on the surface due to the compressive residual stress caused by the impact pressure of the cavity. Surface hardness was improved by the water cavitation peening effect, and the hardness value was the highest at 30 ㎛ amplitude. UNS N08367 with excellent mechanical performance due to its high hardness showed that cavitation inhibited corrosion damage.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2021

In this paper, an application example for fitness-for-service of material is shown. A kind of instrument valve is made of austenitic stainless steel fabricated by the cold working process. The tensile strength of the cold worked austenitic stainless steel has to be limited under 90 ksi to prevent the stress corrosion cracking in power plants. In industrial fields, tensile strengths of some materials were discovered to be over the regulation requirements in a certified material test report (CMTR). Owner's verification tests were performed to compare with that in a CMTR and to check the appropriateness. It is found that, in the case of verification test under the required test speed, valve materials could be used in the field. Although it is only one application sample of material check process in the power generation site, this case study could show an importance of basic experimental technology in academia and research circles.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2023

Based on Ahmadzadeh-Varvani hardening rule (A-V model), multiaxial ratcheting effect of Z2CND18.12N austenitic stainless steel is simulated by ABAQUS with user subroutine UMAT. The results show that the predicted results of the origin multiaxial A-V model are lower than the experimental data, and it is difficult to control ratcheting strain rate. In order to improve the predicted capability of A-V model, the A-V model is modified. In this study. Moreover, under the assumption of the von Mises yield criterion and normal plasticity flow rule, we develop a numerical algorithm of plastic strain with the improved model to implement the finite element calculation of the model. Internal iteration in the numerical algorithm was implemented with the Euler backward method, which calculated the trial strain for each equilibrium iteration using the consistent tangent matrix. With a user subroutine, the proposed model is programmed into ABAQUS for a user - executable version. By simulating the uniaxial ratcheting of a round bar made of Z2CND18.12N austenitic stainless steel, we observe that the predicted results simulated by ABAQUS with UMAT are compared with the experimental data. The predicted results of the improved multiaxial A-V model are consistent well with the experimental data.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.330-340
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• 2023

The objective of this study was to analyze effects of aging time on property degradation of super austenitic stainless steel of PRE 52.8 and super duplex stainless steel of PRE 48.7. To analyze corrosion properties based on aging time, a critical pitting temperature test was performed in a solution of 6% FeCl₃ + 1% HCl and an anodic polarization test was performed in deaerated 0.5N HCl + 1N NaCl solution at a temperature of 50 ℃. Surface hardness was measured to analyze mechanical properties. It was found that corrosion properties and mechanical properties deteriorated rapidly as aging time increased. Critical pitting temperature had the most effect on critical aging time at which property changes occurred rapidly, followed by pitting potential and hardness. This trend was found to be closely related to the fraction of sigma phase. Rate of sigma phase formation was found to be significantly faster in duplex stainless steel than in austenitic stainless steel.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.457-465
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• 2023

Irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) is one of the main degradation mechanisms of austenitic stainless steels, which are used as reactor internal materials. Slow strain rate testing (SSRT) has been widely applied to evaluate the IASCC initiation characteristics of proton-irradiated tensile specimens. Tensile specimens require low surface roughness for micro-crack observation, and electropolishing is the most important specimen pre-treatment process used for this. In this study, optimal electropolishing conditions were examined through analyzing results of polarization experiments and surface roughness measurements after electropolishing. Corrosion cell and electropolishing equipment were fabricated for polarization tests and electropolishing experiments using SSRT specimens. The experimental parameters were electropolishing time, current density, electrolyte temperature, and stirring speed. The optimal electropolishing conditions for SSRT tensile specimens made of type 316 stainless steel were evaluated as a polishing time of 180 seconds, a current density of 0.15 A/cm², an electrolyte temperature of 60 ℃, and a stirring speed of 200 RPM.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.688-706
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• 2024

Austenitic stainless steels (ASS) are extensively employed in various sectors such as nuclear, power, petrochemical, oil and gas because of their excellent structural strength and resistance to corrosion. SS304 and SS316 are the predominant choices for piping, pressure vessels, heat exchangers, nuclear reactor core components and support structures, but they are susceptible to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in chloride-rich environments. Over the course of several decades, extensive research efforts have been directed towards evaluating SCC using diverse methodologies and models, albeit some uncertainties persist regarding the precise progression of cracks. This review paper focuses on the application of Acoustic Emission Technique (AET) for assessing SCC damage mechanism by monitoring the dynamic acoustic emissions or inelastic stress waves generated during the initiation and propagation of cracks. AET serves as a valuable non-destructive technique (NDT) for in-service evaluation of the structural integrity within operational conditions and early detection of critical flaws. By leveraging the time domain and time-frequency domain techniques, various Acoustic Emission (AE) parameters can be characterized and correlated with the multi-stage crack damage phenomena. Further theories of the SCC mechanisms are elucidated, with a focus on both the dissolution-based and cleavage-based damage models. Through the comprehensive insights provided here, this review stands to contribute to an enhanced understanding of SCC damage in stainless steels and the potential AET application in nuclear industry.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.317-327
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• 2024

This study investigated the chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking (CISCC) behavior expected to occur in welds of austenitic stainless steel, which are considered candidate materials for dry storage containers for spent nuclear fuel. The behavior was studied by varying temperature, relative humidity (RH), and chloride concentration. 304L-ER308L welded plates were processed into U-bend specimens and exposed to a cyclic corrosion chamber for 12 weeks. The CISCC behavior was then analyzed using electron microscopy. A previous study by the authors confirmed that CISCC occurred in ER308L at 60 ℃, 30% RH, and 0.6 M NaCl via selective corrosion of δ-ferrite. When the temperature was lowered from 60 ℃ to 50 ℃, CISCC still occurred. However, when the humidity was reduced to 20% RH, CISCC did not happen. This can be attributed to the retardation of the deliquescence of NaCl at lower humidity, which was insufficient to promote CISCC. Furthermore, increased chloride concentration to 1.0 M resulted in the absence of CISCC and widespread surface corrosion with severe pitting corrosion because of the increase in thin film thickness.