Borated stainless steel application in spent-fuel storage racks. Final report

EPRI is continuing to investigate the application of borated stainless steel products within the commercial nuclear power industry through participation in code development and material testing. This effort provides documentation of the material properties of interest in design applications utilizing the borated stainless steel products as structural elements as well as serving as neutron absorbers. The properties of most concern in the design of spent fuel storage racks, shipping casks, and other containment type applications are the materials` ductility, tensile strength, corrosion resistance and resistance to degradation due to radiation and temperature. The data presented in this report indicate that practical designs can be achieved utilizing borated stainless steels and that the materials can be cost effectively applied.