Tensile tests and TEM investigations on LiSoR-2 to -4

Liquid Pb–Bi embrittlement effects on the T91 steel after different heat treatments

“…The composition of the LBE was 44. 8 Bi. The impurities in the material were less than 50 wppm in total.…”

“…the T91 steel) are selected for structural components in contact with LBE. In the MEGAPIE (the Mega-watt pilot experiment) target R&D program, this issue was greatly emphasized, because some preliminary results illustrated more severe LBE embrittlement effects on irradiation hardened specimens [8,9]. However, due to the difficulties of handling radioactive specimens, studies on the LME of irradiated materials are still very limited.…”

Slow strain rate tensile tests on T91 in static lead–bismuth eutectic

“…This strain rate was selected as the LBE embrittlement effects were evidently observed in tests performed at 300°C [4]. After SSRT tests, the fracture surfaces of the specimens were examined with an LEO 440 type scanning electron microscope (SEM).…”

Investigation of LBE embrittlement effects on the fracture properties of T91

“…It can be concluded that the pre-requests for LME of FM steels are: wetting (intimate contact), surface cracks or flows, and a certain level of stress concentration at crack tips. Meanwhile, our preliminary investigations on irradiated T91 specimens demonstrated that the LBE embrittlement effect might increase with irradiation dose, or with irradiation induced hardening [10,11]. However, due to high costs of irradiation and difficulties in handling radioactive specimens, studies on the LME of irradiated materials are very limited up to now.…”