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Effect of hydrogenation on the fracture mode of a reactor pressure-vessel steel

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The conditions for hydrogen-induced intergranular fracture in an artificially embrittled, low-alloy reactor pressure-vessel steel were investigated by using fracture toughness and stress-corrosion cracking tests. The specimens were taken from two locations: the heat-affected zone beneath the cladding and the base material directly below the heat-affected zone. A hydrogenating system allowed the tests to be carried out on both prehydrogenated specimens and with continuous hydrogenation in the course of the tests. In total, the results demonstrate a detrimental effect of hydrogen on the subcritical crack-growth resistance of both materials. At 120°C (close to the upper shelf), it led to a lower energy ductile fracture mode and isolated events of transgranular fracture. At ambient temperature (in the ductile-to-brittle transition mode) some mixed intergranular and transgranular subcritical crack growth was observed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. European Commission Joint Research Center, Institute for Energy, Petten, the Netherlands

    N. Taylor

  2. Karpenko Physicomechanical Institute, Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, Lviv, Ukraine

    H. M. Nykyforchyn, O. T. Tsyrulnyk & O. Z. Student

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  1. N. Taylor
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  2. H. M. Nykyforchyn
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  3. O. T. Tsyrulnyk
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  4. O. Z. Student
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Correspondence to O. Z. Student.

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Taylor, N., Nykyforchyn, H.M., Tsyrulnyk, O.T. et al. Effect of hydrogenation on the fracture mode of a reactor pressure-vessel steel. Mater Sci 45, 613–625 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11003-010-9223-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11003-010-9223-2

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