About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Steels in Extreme Conditions
|
| Presentation Title |
Post-Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT)-Free Steels for Nuclear Applications |
| Author(s) |
Yukinori Yamamoto, Tim Graening |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Yukinori Yamamoto |
| Abstract Scope |
A new alloy design was proposed to avoid the requirement of post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) in heat-resistant steels, combining with reduced-activation alloy design, suitable for large-scale nuclear structural applications. Low Cr containing Cr-W bainitic ferritic steels, based on Fe-3Cr-3W-0.2V-0.1Ta-0.1C (3Cr-3WVTa steel), were developed in 1990’s and selected for fusion reactor components, addressing the challenges of high-volume recycling and/or disposal of large-scale components while maintaining excellent high-temperature performances. A compositional modification of the steel, with a combination of decreased C and increased Mn contents, was proposed to improve the properties in the as-welded condition. The modified steel successfully achieved better room-temperature toughness and the cross-weld creep strength without PWHT, superior to those of the original steel weldment. The present study introduces further alloy modification addressing the concern about potential irradiation embrittlement attributed to the increased Mn addition. The results of comprehensive property evaluation including high-temperature creep-rupture properties are to be presented. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Joining, Nuclear Materials, High-Temperature Materials |