Optimizing Material/Component Fabrication Processing for Improving Service Performance in Nuclear Power Plant Coolants

The service performances in terms of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of pressurized water reactor structural components in coolants are critical for the economic and long-term safe operation. the materials, microstructual and mechanical properties resulting from material manufacturing and component fabrication are strongly affecting their performance behaviors such as environmentally assisted cracking. The integrated route for achieving high service performance materials and components is proposed. Some cases of reports on the plant experiences of using cracking-sensitive or cracking-resistant materials are used to illustrated the importance of the route. The route is practiced and demonstrated to be effective through our cooperative R&D works with designers, materials producers, component venders, operating service organizations as well as industrial research institutes.