Evaluation of self-welding susceptibility of an austenitic stainless steel (alloy D9) in sodium

Self-welding susceptibility of a 15Cr–15Ni–2Mo titanium-modified austenitic stainless steel (alloy D9), in both annealed and 20% cold-worked conditions, have been evaluated in flowing sodium at 823 K for 2160 and 4320 h under contact stress of 9.4 MPa. Tests were performed on flat-on-flat geometry of hollow cylindrical specimens under compression. One pair of 20% cold-worked alloy D9 vs. 20% cold-worked alloy D9 specimens tested for 4320 h was self-welded for which the breakaway shear force was measured. Scanning electron micrographs of the self-welded region showed that portions of the original interface no longer existed. The paper discusses the experimental set-up installed in the sodium loop test facility and the results of self-welding susceptibility studies on this material.