Effect of irradiation temperature and dose on mechanical properties and fracture characteristics of Cu//SS joints for ITER

Abstract In this paper, the authors present the results of investigations into the mechanical characteristics after irradiation of GlidCopAl25/316L(N) and CuCrZr/316L(N)-type joints produced by two joining technologies. Specimens of the joints were irradiated in the RBT-6 reactor in the dose range of 10 −3 –10 −1 dpa at Т irr  = 200 °С and 300 °С. Irradiation at Т irr  = 200 °С causes strengthening of the joints specimens (by about 100 MPa at the maximum dose). The uniform elongation drops from 8% in the initial state to 2–3%. But the total elongation remains at a relatively high level of ∼7%. Irradiation at 300 °С does not practically change the ultimate strength of CuCrZr/316L(N) joints, but the total and uniform elongation of the joints decreases monotonously with a dose. But in this case, the level of elongation remains considerably higher than that when irradiated at 200 °С.