Microstructure after Solution Annealing of the Nuclear Grade Austenitic Stainless Steel DIN 1.4970

The main objective of the present work was to characterize the phases that are present after solution annealing in the microstructure of the titanium stabilized austenitic stainless steel W.-Nr. 1.4970, developed as a candidate material for fast breeder reactor fuel cladding. The crystalline structure, chemical composition, quantity, size, morphology, and distribution of the phases present in the microstructure after solution annealing heat treatments were studied in detail with the help of several complementary techniques. Chemical dissolution of the matrix has been performed using the Berzelius solution and the extracted residue has been analyzed by X-ray diffraction in a high precision camera. Three phases have been observed and identified after solution annealing heat treatments performed in the 1090 to 1300 °C temperature range, namely: (Ti,Mo)C; Ti (N,C) and Ti4C2S2. The Ti-nitride and the Ti-carbosulfide did not dissolve in the steel matrix up to 1300 °C, on the other hand, the solubility of the (Ti,Mo)C raised strongly with temperature. A solution annealing heat treatment is recommended for the W. Nr. 1.4970 stainless steel.