The neutron irradiation effect on mechanical properties of HIP joint material

Dispersion strengthened copper (DSCu) and stainless steel are the candidate material for the heat sink and the structural material of the ITER shielding blanket and these materials are joined by hot isostatic pressing (HIP). In this study, the neutron irradiation effect on mechanical properties of HIP joint material was examined by tensile and impact tests using specimens with irradiation damage of about 1.5 dpa. The results of tensile tests show that tensile strength of HIP joint material was about the same as that of DSCu base material, and this trend did not change after neutron irradiation. On the other hand, the impact value of HIP joint material was smaller than that of DSCu base material because of the diffusion of main elements at joint boundary. It was shown that embrittlement by the neutron irradiation effect is smaller than that of the effect by HIP joint.