Mechanical and gamma ray attenuation properties of N316L steel treated by rf plasma as a nuclear material

Abstract

The effects of plasma surface engineering on average surface roughness, wettability and gamma ray attenuation properties of AISI316L standard steel sample were investigated. The results showed an increase in surface roughness accompanied with an increase in the surface energy and a decrease in the contact angle of the N316L sample treated by plasma carbonitriding. The experimental measurements of gamma ray attenuation properties of the investigated stainless-steel alloys were carried out using gamma lines emitted from 232 Th and 60 Co gamma ray sources. The attenuation parameters such as linear and mass attenuation coefficients and half value layer were determined experimentally and theoretically. The obtained results indicate that the rf plasma surface treatment is an effective method for developing the surface tribological properties of the treated stainless-steel alloy without any change in the gamma ray attenuation properties. The obtained results suggest the suitability of N316L for in-core applications of nuclear reactor systems.

Structural and Tribological Properties of Heat-Treated Stainless Steels against Abrasive and Lubricant Wear Conditions

“…S1 is a Martensitic stainless steel grade characterised by a base-centred cubic structure with reflection planes (110), ( 200) and (211) [6], whereas S2 and S3 are austenite stainless steel grades defined by a facecentred cubic structure with reflection planes (111), ( 200) and (220). Furthermore, S1 prefers the alpha (110) direction planes; however, S2 and S3 choose the gamma (111) direction planes [14][15][16][17][18], [26].…”

“…Several parameters obtained from the XRD analysis demonstrate the influence of the heat treatment process on the selected stainless steel grades, including texture coefficient, full width half maximum (FWHM), and crystallite size [14][15][16][17][18]27] (Table 2). The texture coefficient is obtained by dividing (the intensity of preferred orientation) by (the summation of the other whole peak intensities existing in the crystal), FWHM = peak area peak hight , and the crystallite size is defined by the Williamson-Hall plot equation.…”

“…Coatings 2021, 11, 1473 7 of 18 TESCAN) to show the obtained the grain size for both of the martensitic and austenitic samples S1 and S3, before and after the heat treatment process. full width half maximum (FWHM), and crystallite size [14][15][16][17][18]27] (Table 2). The texture coefficient is obtained by dividing (the intensity of preferred orientation) by (the summation of the other whole peak intensities existing in the crystal), FWHM , and the crystallite size is defined by the Williamson-Hall plot equation.…”

“…According to Wenzel, Cassie and Baxter's methods, there is a direct relationship between surface roughness and contact angle [11,12]. Numerous material treatment methods have been used to enhance the surface topography of stainless steel alloys, such as the femtosecond laser surface treatment [13] and radiofrequency plasma [14][15][16][17][18]. The rougher the surface, the more the contact angle or, the less the wettability between the lubricant and the examined material, resulting in a higher degree of hydrophobicity.…”

“…The study confirmed the deep relationship between the resultant treated material surface morphology, surface roughness and the final behaviour of the treated material wettability and corrosion resistance. The higher contact angles have been obtained with materials that have higher surface microhardness and are rougher [14][15][16][17][18]. Hence, the surface morphology of the treated material is a very important parameter affecting the quality of the material.…”