10:20 AM - 10:40 AM
[17C-T4-05] On the Material Properties of a Large PM+HIP Component for Application in Nuclear Power Plants
Keywords:Hot Isostatic Pressing, Large Component, Stainless Steel
The elaboration of Nuclear Power Plant primary circuit pipework currently relies on forging/casting and machining processes. However, to maintain performance and competitiveness, Framatome and EDF decided to take advantage of Powder Metallurgy Hot Isostatic Pressing (PM+HIP) benefits and launched a pre-industrialisation project intended to demonstrate the ability of the process and the supply-chain to produce an 8-tons 304L primary elbow in compliance with the nuclear requirements. The final elbow was supplied by Framatome with EDF. Bodycote performed the elbow casing design and the subsequent HIP process. After briefly showing the production phase, which was exposed in the WorldPM22 congress, the presentation will provide characterisation results which confirm the compliance with EDF/Framatome's requirements, based on current RCC-M code requirements for forged 304L: notably a fine microstructure, strong tensile, toughness and fatigue properties, and homogeneous mechanical/chemical characteristics across the whole primary elbow.