Fabrication of Gd containing duplex stainless steel sheet for neutron absorbing structural materials

Abstract

A duplex stainless steel sheet with 1 wt.% gadolinium was fabricated for a neutron absorbing material with high strength, excellent corrosion resistance, and low cost as well as high neutron absorption capability. The microstructure of the as-cast specimen has typical duplex phases including 31% ferrite and 69% austenite. Main alloy elements like chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and gadolinium (Gd) are relatively uniformly distributed in the matrix. Gadolinium rich precipitates were present in the grains and at the grain boundaries. The solution treatment at 1070 °C for 50 minutes followed by the hot-rolling above 950 °C after keeping the sheet at 1200 °C for 1.5 hours are important points of the optimum condition to produce a 6 mm-thick plate without cracking.