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Nano-Scale Precipitates of Reduced Activation Steels for the Application of Nuclear Fusion Reactors

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Abstract

An alloy composition of reduced-activation Cr–W–V ferritic steels for nuclear fusion reactors was studied. The formation of nano-metric precipitates through standardized heat treatments in Cr–W–V alloy system is investigated using microscopic observations. Metallography studies have revealed that the micro-structure of alloy after tempering has been Martensite. Also after tempering, the matrix structure of alloy and the formation of nano-scale precipitates on grain and lath boundaries were confirmed by the Scanning Electron Microscope observations. By the application of X-ray Diffraction spectra analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) electron diffraction patterns, it was shown that the type of precipitates extracted from alloy, would be M23C6 and M7C3 that include a cubic and trigonal crystal structure, respectively. TEM analysis has revealed that the morphology of these structural components is mainly spherical and blocky shapes and the average length and thickness of them would be 65 and 50 nm, respectively.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the advanced materials group of materials research school (NSTRI) for its financial supports.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Young Researchers and Elite Club, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran

    S. Moniri

  2. Plasma Physics Research Center, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    M. Ghoranneviss

  3. Plasma Physics Research Center, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    M. R. Hantehzadeh & A. Salar Elahi

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  1. S. Moniri
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  2. M. Ghoranneviss
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  3. M. R. Hantehzadeh
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  4. A. Salar Elahi
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Correspondence to A. Salar Elahi.

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Moniri, S., Ghoranneviss, M., Hantehzadeh, M.R. et al. Nano-Scale Precipitates of Reduced Activation Steels for the Application of Nuclear Fusion Reactors. J Fusion Energ 34, 449–455 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10894-014-9822-2

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