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Radiation Embrittlement of VVÉR-1000 Vessel Materials

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Abstract

Radiation embrittlement of VVÉR-1000 vessel materials has been studied much less than for VVÉR-440 reactors. In the present paper the results of an investigation of the first batches of control samples of VVÉR-1000 vessel materials are discussed. The chemical composition of the materials is characterized by a low content of harmful impurities (copper and phosphorus) and a high nickel content (up to 1.9% in some weld seams). The actual rate of radiation embrittlement of the material studied is comparable to the embrittlement calculated using the Russian standards. The dependence of radiation embrittlement of VVÉR-1000 vessel materials on the metallurgical variables and the damaging dose is studied. The investigation showed that nickel greatly intensifies the radiation embrittlement. New relations were developed for determining the actual rate of radiation embrittlement of VVÉR-1000 reactor vessel materials and assessment of its conservativeness.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for the Safe Growth of Nuclear Power, Russia

    A. V. Nikolaeva

  2. Russian Science Center Kurchatov Institute, Russia

    Yu. A. Nikolaev & Yu. R. Kevorkyan

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  1. A. V. Nikolaeva
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  2. Yu. A. Nikolaev
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  3. Yu. R. Kevorkyan
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Nikolaeva, A.V., Nikolaev, Y.A. & Kevorkyan, Y.R. Radiation Embrittlement of VVÉR-1000 Vessel Materials. Atomic Energy 90, 374–381 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011320424376

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