Tensile response of low activation ferritic steels irradiated in ORR at temperatures in the range 60–400 °C

Post-irradiation tensile test results are reported for a series of low activation steels containing manganese following irradiation in the Oak Ridge Reactor at 60, 200, 330 and 400 °C to ∼10 dpa. Alloy compositions included 2Cr, 9Cr and 12Cr steels with V to 1.5% and W to 1.0%. Strengths are higher in all alloys for irradiation conditions below 400 °C, with peak hardening occurring following irradiation at 200 °C. The 9Cr alloy class exhibited the smallest increases in hardening. Test results were consistent with previous results obtained on fast flux test facility-irradiated specimens. Manganese does not appear to play a role in the hardening observed at these low irradiation temperatures.