Effect of re-irradiation by neutrons on mechanical properties of un-irradiated/irradiated SS316LN weldments

Stainless steel of type SS316LN-IG (ITER Grade) is used for the branch pipeline connecting of the module coolant system and for other structures of ITER. One of the most important requirements for the branch pipeline connection is to recover various defects by welding. In the present study, characteristics of irradiated weldments were evaluated. SS316LN-IG specimens irradiated to helium contents of 3 and 10 appm He were prepared by the first neutron irradiation. Thereafter, the SS316LN-IG specimens with three different combinations of un-irradiation and irradiation were welded by a tungsten inert-gas (TIG) welding method. These weldments were re-irradiated at 150 °C up to a fast neutron fluence of about 7.5 × 1024 n/m2 (E > 1 MeV). Tensile tests of the weldments and the base material were carried out at 20 and 150 °C after the re-irradiation. The results of the comparison before and after the re-irradiation showed that tensile properties of all weldment specimens with the different combinations were almost the same as those of the base materials.