| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2025 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Meeting Materials Challenges for the Future of Fusion Energy
|
| Presentation Title |
RAFM Welding with In-Situ Thermal Processing for Simplified First Wall Fabrication |
| Author(s) |
Daniel Codd, Joseph McCrink, Xiang (Frank) Chen, Timothy Lach |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Daniel Codd |
| Abstract Scope |
Reduced activation ferritic martensitic (RAFM) steels, such as Eurofer97, are benchmark structural materials with compositions based on modified 9Cr-1Mo creep resistant alloys. These have sufficient Cr and C content such that cooling from the austenitization temperature results in a martensitic microstructure; hence, weldments typically require special preheating and cumbersome post weld heat treatment (PWHT) to mitigate brittleness, cracking and restore material performance. However, PWHT itself can pose risks for multimaterial structures of varying scales and compositions such as first wall assemblies.
To simplify fabrication, a hybrid integrated GTAW welding and thermal process is shown to improve the ductility and toughness without subjecting the assembly to a separate energy and time intensive PWHT. Integrated process-produced Eurofer97 and Grade 91 F/M welds and a cyclically tested pressure vessel prototype are shown to have comparable mechanical performance to conventional PWHT processing, validated with hardness mapping and advanced characterization. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Nuclear Materials, Joining, Other |