About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Developments in Advanced Nuclear Structural Materials
|
| Presentation Title |
Laser-Induced Microstructural Recovery in Cold-Worked 304L and 316L Stainless Steels for Nuclear Applications |
| Author(s) |
Shahin Alaei, Mehdi Balooch, Shmuel Samuha, Maayan Matmor, Peter Chou, Peter Hosemann |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Shahin Alaei |
| Abstract Scope |
This study explores how localized laser annealing influences microstructural evolution in cold-worked 304L and 316L stainless steels for nuclear reactor applications. By simulating radiation-induced damage through cold deformation, continuous-wave laser treatments were applied to drive recovery and twin boundary formation while minimizing grain coarsening. Laser conditions (15% scan power (110 W), 10 mm/s raster speed, and six passes) were identified as optimal, reaching 1075 °C for 304L and 1310 °C for 316L. Post-treatment characterization using SEM, EBSD, and EDS revealed a decrease in geometrically necessary dislocations, increased Σ3 boundary fractions, and reduced microhardness. These conditions promoted dislocation annihilation and twinning, reducing residual strain and hardness while preserving favorable grain structures. Compared to untreated controls, laser-processed samples showed improvements in metrics linked to radiation damage tolerance, demonstrating the potential of laser annealing as a microstructure-engineering method to improve the longevity of structural alloys exposed to extreme nuclear environments. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Characterization, Nuclear Materials, Iron and Steel |