Tensile and impact properties of V–4Cr–4Ti alloy heats 832665 and 832864

Two large heats of V–4Cr–4Ti alloy were produced in the US in the past few years. The first, 832665, was a 500 kg heat procured by the US Department of Energy for basic fusion structural materials research. The second, 832864, was a 1300 kg heat procured by General Atomics for the DIII-D radiative divertor upgrade. Both heats were produced by Oremet-Wah Chang (previously Teledyne Wah Chang of Albany). Tensile properties up to 800°C and Charpy V-notch impact properties down to liquid nitrogen temperature were measured for both heats. The product forms tested for both heats were rolled sheets annealed at 1000°C for 1 h in vacuum. Testing results show the behavior of the two heats to be similar and the reduction of strengths with temperature to be insignificant up to at least 750°C. Ductility of both materials is good in the test temperature range. Impact properties for both heats are excellent – no brittle failures at temperatures above −150°C. Compared to the data for previous smaller laboratory heats of 15–50 kg, the results show that scale-up of vanadium alloy ingot production to sizes useful for reactor blanket design can be successfully achieved as long as reasonable process control is implemented (H. Tsai, et al., Fusion Materials Semiannual Progress Report for Period Ending 30th June 1998, DOE/ER-0313/24, p. 3; H. Tsai, et al., Fusion Materials Semiannual Progress Report for Period Ending 31st December 1998, DOE/ER-0313/25, p. 3).