PHASE-STRUCTURAL CHANGES DURING THE DEFORMATION OF AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEELS IRRADIATED WITH NEUTRONS IN THE VVR-K REACTOR

The paper studies the features of martensitic transformation during plastic deformation (uniaxial tension and compression) of austenitic steels 12X18N10T and AISI304 irradiated with thermal neutrons to a fluence of 3.7·10²⁰ n/cm² . The nickel equivalent and stacking fault energy values for 12X18N10T and AISI304 steels are calculated. It is established that AISI304 steel is more prone to martensitic transformation. The mechanical characteristics of the studied steels under uniaxial tension are determined. It is shown that with similar strength characteristics, the plasticity of irradiated AISI304 steel is twice as high as that of 12X18N10T steel. This fact is due to the more intense martensitic transformation during the plastic deformation of AISI304 steel.

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