Effect of thermo-mechanical parameters on the mechanical properties of Eurofer97 steel for nuclear applications

Eurofer97 steel has been recognised in Europe as the reference steel for nuclear application under high radiation density. Following to this a detailed knowledge of microstructure evolution is required for such steel after thermo-mechanical processing. In this paper the effect of thermo-mechanical parameters on the mechanical behavior of Eurofer97 was investigated by hot rolling and heat treatment on pilot scale. Results show a strong effect was found of reheating temperature before rolling on the material hardness, due to an increase of hardenability following the austenite grain growth. A minor effect was found of the hot reduction and the tempering temperature in the total investigated deformation range. A loss of impact energy was found coupled with the hardness increase.