Irradiation creep and swelling from 400 to 600°C of the oxide dispersion strengthened ferritic alloy MA957

An irradiation creep and swelling study was performed on the Y2O3-strengthened ODS ferritic steel MA957. Pressurized tubes were irradiated in the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) to doses ranging from 40 to 110 dpa at temperatures ranging from 400 to 600 degreesC. None of the stress-free tubes exhibited any evidence of swelling as determined by diameter change measurements. With a few exceptions, the irradiation creep behavior is similar to that of conventional ferritic-martensitic steels. Calculated creep compliance values are equal to those of HT9 irradiated within the same temperature range, except at 600 degreesC where the creep rate of MA957 is about one-half the value for HT9. The magnitude of the creep transient for MA957 is comparable to HT9, again except at 600 degreesC where the transient is much lower for MA957. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.