Contribution of Hardening Mechanism to VVER-1000 RPV Welds Flux Effect

Abstract

Systematic differences in the radiation embrittlement kinetics of steels irradiated with different fluxes requires a clear understanding and assessment of the mechanisms responsible for the flux effect. This paper presents results of research of hardening mechanism contribution to flux effect of VVER-1000 reactor pressure vessel (RPV) welds. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atom probe tomography (APT) investigations were carried out. Studies of hardening phases of RPV-steel (VVER-1000) after accelerated irradiation allowed to estimate the contribution of the hardening mechanism to flux effect.


Keywords: reactor pressure vessel, hardening mechanism, flux effect

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