Mechanical properties and damage behavior of non-magnetic high manganese austenitic steels

Fe-Cr-Mn steels have been considered as materials of structural components for fusion reactor because of their low induced-radio-activity compared with SUS316 stainless steels. It has been expected to develop a non-magnetic steel with a high stability of the austenitic phase and a strong resistance to irradiation environments. For these objectives, a series of the Fe-Cr-Mn steels have been examined by tensile tests and simulation irradiation by electrons. The main alloying compositions of the steels developed are; C:0.02-0.2 wt%, Mn:15 wt%, Cr:15-16 wt%, N:0.2 wt%. These steels were heat-treated at 1323 K for 1 h. The structure of the steels after the heat-treatment was austenite single phase. The yield stress of the steels was 350-450 MPa and the elongation were 55-60%. When the steels of high C and N was electron-irradiated at below 673 K, no voids were nucleated and only small dislocation loops were formed with high density. The austenite phase was also stable during irradiation below 673 K. Thus, newly developed high manganese steels have excellent mechanical proprieties and high irradiation resistance at relatively low temperature. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.