NSUF 26-5687: Irradiation tolerance and surface-layer stability of plasma-nitrided SS316H
This experiment aims to evaluate the effects of a plasma-nitrided surface layer on the mechanical response and irradiation tolerance of stainless steel 316H for advanced reactor applications. The nitrided layer enhances surface hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. Mechanical characterization, including nanoindentation and micropillar compression, will be performed on both nitrided and virgin specimens with and without ion irradiation. Post-irradiation microstructural analysis via TEM and APT will be used to assess damage evolution, phase stability, and surface integrity. The objective is to determine whether this surface modification enhances the irradiation tolerance of SS316H in environments analogous to molten salt reactors.
Additional Info
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Awarded Institution | Texas A&M University |
| DOI | 10.46936/NSUF/60017651 |
| Embargo End Date | 2028-04-22 |
| Facility Tech Lead | Fei Teng, Lin Shao |
| Irradiation Facilities | Accelerator Laboratory |
| NSUF Call | FY 2026 RTE 1st Call |
| PI | William Simon |
| PIE Facilities | Microscopy and Characterization Suite |
| Prep Facilities | Accelerator Laboratory |
| Project Member | Professor Lin Shao, Professor - Texas A&M University (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5703-1153) |
| Project Member | Dr. Mukesh Bachhav, Staff Scientist - Idaho National Laboratory (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8104-6032) |
| Project Member | Dr. Kenneth Cooper, Associate Staff Irradiation Engineer - Oak Ridge National Laboratory (https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6180-980X) |
| Project Member | Mr William Simon, Graduate Student - Texas A&M University (https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7324-9193) |
| Project Type | RTE |