Tensile properties and fracture behaviour of V–Cr–Ti alloys after neutron irradiation at 330°C

• Published in: Journal of nuclear materials 1998, Vol.258, p.1492-1496
• Main Authors: Kazakov, V.A., Chakin, V.P., Goncharenko, Yu.D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-3115; 1873-4820
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-3115(98)00329-8

Results of irradiation effects in the fast neutron spectrum of the BOR-60 reactor on the mechanical properties and fracture behaviour of vanadium as well as on binary and ternary alloys (including V–4Cr–4Ti and V–5Cr–10Ti) are presented. The irradiation was carried out at 330°C in a 7Li isotope environment to a damage dose of 18 dpa. It is shown that all alloys without exception experienced severe radiation embrittlement. Most specimens failed without discernible traces of ductile strain at room temperature. At a test temperature of 350°C, ductility was observed but the total elongation, as a rule, did not exceed 1%. The fracture was mixed: transgranular brittle cleavage and ductile dimple rupture. As the test temperature was increased from 20°C to 350°C, the brittle fracture fraction decreased. At 600°C only ductile fracture was observed. The behaviour of V–4Cr–4Ti alloys of American and Russian production is analyzed in the 275–530°C temperature range, where a shift in behaviour from brittle to ductile failure is observed.