|
|
|
| Research progress on fatigue properties and fracture toughness of refractory alloys for reactors |
| CHEN Pengxu, LIU Xudong, DOU Yankun, HE Xinfu |
| Department of Reactor Engineering Technology, China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing 102413, China |
|
|
|
|
Abstract Refractory alloys possess outstanding high-temperature mechanical properties and radiation resistance, offering broad application prospects in fourth-generation nuclear energy systems. This paper reviews research progress focusing on the effects of processing techniques, alloy composition, and extreme service conditions of the reactor on the fatigue properties and fracture toughness of refractory alloys. It reveals that current research on refractory alloys for reactors has evolved from traditional materials preparation and property characterization to a systematic exploration of the interactions among processing techniques, alloy composition, and service environments. It identifies existing problems in the current research and outlines key future research directions for refractory alloys in reactor applications.
|
|
Received: 05 January 2026
Published: 07 May 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
[1] MATHEW M D.Nuclear energy: a pathway towards mitigation of global warming[J]. Progress in Nuclear Energy, 2022, 143: 104080. [2] ROGNER H H.Nuclear power and sustainable development[J]. Journal of International Affairs, 2010: 64(1): 137-163. [3] KARAKOSTA C, PAPPAS C, MARINAKIS V, et al.Renewable energy and nuclear power towards sustainable development: characteristics and prospects[J]. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2013, 22: 187-197. [4] 许增裕. 聚变材料研究的现状和展望[J]. 原子能科学技术, 2003, 37(S1): 105-110. XU Zengyu.Status and expectation of fusion materials research and development[J]. Atomic Energy Science and Technology, 2003, 37(S1): 105-110. [5] 吴玉程. 核聚变堆用W及其合金辐照损伤行为研究进展[J]. 金属学报, 2019, 55(8): 939-950. WU Yucheng.Research progress in irradiation damage behavior of tungsten and its alloys for nuclear fusion reactor[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica, 2019, 55(8): 939-950. [6] Nuclear Energy Agency.Handbook on lead-bismuth eutectic alloy and lead properties, materials compatibility, thermal-hydraulics and technologies: 2015 edition[R]. Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2015. [7] ROMEDENNE M, PINT B A.Corrosion in sodium fast reactors[R]. Washington, DC: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 2021. [8] MATHEW M D, LAHA K, SANDHYA R.Creep and low cycle fatigue behaviour of fast reactor structural materials[J]. Procedia Engineering, 2013, 55: 17-26. [9] YAMASHITA H, ASAYAMA T.Structural materials for sodium cooled fast reactors[M]//BALBAUD-CÉLÉRIER F, CABET C. Materials and Processes for Nuclear Energy Today and in the Future. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2024: 145. [10] FÜTTERER M A, FU L, SINK C, et al. Status of the very high temperature reactor system[J]. Progress in Nuclear Energy, 2014, 77: 266-281. [11] HAYNER G O, BRATTON R L, WRIGHT R N, et al.Next generation nuclear plant materials research and development program plan[R]. Idaho Falls: Idaho National Laboratory, 2005. [12] ROPER R, HARKEMA M, SABHARWALL P, et al.Molten salt for advanced energy applications: a review[J]. Annals of Nuclear Energy, 2022, 169: 108924. [13] FEDERICI G, BIEL W, GILBERT M R, et al.European DEMO design strategy and consequences for materials[J]. Nuclear Fusion, 2017, 57(9): 092002. [14] ZINKLE S J, SNEAD L L.Designing radiation resistance in materials for fusion energy[J]. Annual Review of Materials Research, 2014, 44: 241-267. [15] BOLT H, BARABASH V, KRAUSS W, et al.Materials for the plasma-facing components of fusion reactors[J]. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2004, 329: 66-73. [16] FEDERICI G.Plasma wall interactions in ITER[J]. Physica Scripta, 2006, T124: 1-8. [17] LASSNER E, SCHUBERT W D.Tungsten: Properties, Chemistry, Technology of the Element, Alloys, and Chemical Compounds[M]. New York: Springer, 2012. [18] ZHAO J C, WESTBROOK J H.Ultrahigh-temperature materials for jet engines[J]. MRS Bulletin, 2003, 28(9): 622-630. [19] ZINKLE S J, WIFFEN F W.Radiation effects in refractory alloys[C]//EL-GENK M S. AIP Conference Proceedings: Volume 699, Issue 1. College Park, MD: American Institute of Physics, 2004: 733-740. [20] WAS G S, PETTI D, UKAI S, et al.Materials for future nuclear energy systems[J]. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2019, 527: 151837. [21] ZINKLE S J, WAS G S.Materials challenges in nuclear energy[J]. Acta Materialia, 2013, 61(3): 735-758. [22] 曾毅, 孙院军, 安耿, 等. 核反应堆用钼铼合金结构材料研究进展[J]. 粉末冶金技术, 2023, 41(4): 307-314. ZENG Yi, SUN Yuanjun, AN Geng, et al.Research progress of Mo-Re alloy structural materials used for nuclear reactors[J]. Powder Metallurgy Technology, 2023, 41(4): 307-314. [23] 张晨, 杨金学, 张怡卓, 等. 难熔高熵合金的辐照效应研究进展[J]. 原子能科学技术, 2025, 59(8): 1565-1584. ZHANG Chen, YANG Jinxue, ZHANG Yizhuo, et al.Research progress on irradiation effect of refractory high-entropy alloy[J]. Atomic Energy Science and Technology, 2025, 59(8): 1565-1584. [24] HABAINY J, IYENGAR S, LEE Y, et al.Fatigue behavior of rolled and forged tungsten at 25, 280 and 480 ℃[J]. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2015, 465: 438-447. [25] HABAINY J, LÖVBERG A, IYENGAR S, et al. Fatigue properties of tungsten from two different processing routes[J]. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2018, 506: 83-91. [26] TANVIR G, KARIM M A, KIM N, et al.High-cycle tensile-tensile fatigue performance of niobium alloy: conventional vs wire-arc additive manufacturing[J]. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 2025, 35: 98-109. [27] SOMMERAUER M, SELIGMANN B, GOTTLIEB H, et al.Enhanced thermomechanical fatigue resistance in W10Re alloys: microstructural and surface engineering approaches[J]. Nuclear Materials and Energy, 2024, 41: 101769. [28] GUAN W H, NOGAMI S, FUKUDA M, et al.Tensile and fatigue properties of potassium doped and rhenium containing tungsten rods for fusion reactor applications[J]. Fusion Engineering and Design, 2016, 109: 1538-1542. [29] MANSON S S.Fatigue: a complex subject: some simple approximations[J]. Experimental Mechanics, 1965, 5: 193-226. [30] SONG W L, XU L J, LI N, et al.Effect of zirconia on low cycle fatigue and energy absorption of molybdenum alloy[J]. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2021, 867: 159118. [31] XU Z N, XU L J, SONG W L, et al.Evaluating low cycle fatigue property of nanoscale ZrO2 particles strengthening molybdenum alloy[J]. Vacuum, 2022, 203: 111170. [32] XIE Z M, MIAO S, LIU R, et al.Recrystallization and thermal shock fatigue resistance of nanoscale ZrC dispersion strengthened W alloys as plasma-facing components in fusion devices[J]. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2017, 496: 41-53. [33] CHENG P M, ZHANG Z J, ZHANG G J, et al.Low cycle fatigue behaviors of pure Mo and Mo-La2O3 alloys[J]. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2017, 707: 295-305. [34] ZHANG X X, YAN Q Z, LANG S T, et al.Thermal shock and fatigue resistance of tungsten materials under transient heat loading[J]. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2014, 455(1/2/3): 537-543. [35] XU L, CHEN H, JIA Y F, et al.Revealing effects of creep damage on high-temperature fatigue behavior for HfNbTiZr refractory high-entropy alloys: experimental investigation and crystal-plasticity modelling[J]. Journal of Materials Science & Technology, 2025, 231: 134-150. [36] LI Y, VERMEIJ T, HOEFNAGELS J P M, et al. Influence of porosity and blistering on the thermal fatigue behavior of tungsten[J]. Nuclear Fusion, 2022, 62(7): 076039. [37] MADAY M F.Low cycle fatigue behaviour of TZM molybdenum alloy in divertor water coolant[J]. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 1996, 233: 1397-1402. [38] TERENTYEV D, VILÉMOVÁ M, YIN C, et al. Assessment of mechanical properties of SPS-produced tungsten including effect of neutron irradiation[J]. International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials, 2020, 89: 105207. [39] XIONG B W, CAI C C, WANG Z J.Microstructures and room temperature fracture toughness of Nb/Nb5Si3 composites alloyed with W, Mo and W-Mo fabricated by spark plasma sintering[J]. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2014, 604: 211-216. [40] SUN B, WANG Q Q, CHEN Y X, et al.Design of heterogeneous structure for enhancing formation quality of laser-manufactured WTaMoNb refractory high-entropy alloy[J]. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2023, 953: 170066. [41] GAO Q, LIU H, CHEN P J.Investigation of elevated temperature microstructural stability and tribological behavior of MoxNbTiZr refractory high-entropy alloy coatings optimized by Mo-doping[J]. Tribology International, 2024, 194: 109544. [42] HOHENWARTER A, WURSTER S, VÖLKER B. Fracture of severely plastically deformed Ta and Nb[J]. International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials, 2017, 64: 143-150. [43] MOSCHETTI M, HOHENWARTER A, ALFREIDER M, et al.Fracture toughness investigations of an ion-irradiated nanocrystalline TiZrNbHfTa refractory high-entropy alloy[J]. Advanced Engineering Materials, 2024, 26(19): 2400541. [44] FALESCHINI M, KREUZER H, KIENER D, et al.Fracture toughness investigations of tungsten alloys and SPD tungsten alloys[J]. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2007, 367: 800-805. [45] MUTOH Y, ICHIKAWA K, NAGATA K, et al.Effect of rhenium addition on fracture toughness of tungsten at elevated temperatures[J]. Journal of Materials Science, 1995, 30(3): 770-775. [46] PILLMEIER S, ŽÁK S, PIPPAN R, et al. Exploring the fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth behavior of MoRe alloys[J]. International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials, 2025, 127: 106969. [47] STURM D, HEILMAIER M, SCHNEIBEL J H, et al.The influence of silicon on the strength and fracture toughness of molybdenum[J]. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2007, 463(1/2): 107-114. [48] WANG S P, MA E, XU J.Notch fracture toughness of body-centered-cubic (TiZrNbTa)Mo high-entropy alloys[J]. Intermetallics, 2018, 103: 78-87. [49] WURMSHUBER M, ALFREIDER M, WURSTER S, et al.Small-scale fracture mechanical investigations on grain boundary doped ultrafine-grained tungsten[J]. Acta Materialia, 2023, 250: 118878. [50] COCKERAM B V.The role of stress state on the fracture toughness and toughening mechanisms of wrought molybdenum and molybdenum alloys[J]. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2010, 528(1): 288-308. [51] ZENG S, ZHU Y H, LI W, et al.A single-phase Ti3Zr1.5NbVAl0.25 refractory high entropy alloy with excellent combination of strength and toughness[J]. Materials Letters, 2022, 323: 132548. [52] XU F D, CHEN D Z, CHEN R R, et al.Exploring NbSi based alloys with excellent fracture toughness and oxidation resistance[J]. Materials Characterization, 2024, 215: 114220. [53] GUO Y L, JIA L N, KONG B, et al.Microstructure and fracture toughness of Nb-Si based alloys with Ta and W additions[J]. Intermetallics, 2018, 92: 1-6. [54] WANG Q, WANG X W, CHEN R R, et al.Microstructure evolution and fracture toughness of Nb-Si-Ti based alloy with Cr, Mo and W elements addition[J]. Intermetallics, 2022, 140: 107408. [55] ZHAO T Y, WANG Q, CHEN R R, et al.Optimization of Zr and Mo element on room-temperature fracture toughness and the integrity of oxide film[J]. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 2023, 26: 5683-5695. [56] GIETL H, OLBRICH S, RIESCH J, et al.Estimation of the fracture toughness of tungsten fibre-reinforced tungsten composites[J]. Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 2020, 232: 107011. [57] LIU D Q, ZHAO W Q, CHEN G K, et al.High strength refractory high-entropy alloy matrix composites reinforced with in-situ formed Al2O3 particles[J]. International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials, 2025, 133: 107368. [58] CHEN C, YANG S Y, LIU R, et al.The interfacial microstructure and fracture toughness of W/Ta multilayer composites[J]. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2022, 831: 142272. [59] YIN C, TERENTYEV D, VAN DYCK S, et al.Effect of high-temperature neutron irradiation on fracture toughness of ITER-specification tungsten[J]. Physica Scripta, 2020, T171(1): 014052. [60] COCKERAM B V.Measuring the fracture toughness of molybdenum-0.5 pct titanium-0.1 pct zirconium and oxide dispersion-strengthened molybdenum alloys using standard and subsized bend specimens[J]. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, 2002, 33(12): 3685-3707. [61] COCKERAM B V, BYUN T S, LEONARD K J, et al.Post-irradiation fracture toughness of unalloyed molybdenum, ODS molybdenum, and TZM molybdenum following irradiation at 244 ℃ to 507 ℃[J]. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2013, 440(1/2/3): 382-413. [62] RAMACHANDRAN K, JAYAKODY Y C, JAYASEELAN D D.Oxidation behaviour and its effect on fracture toughness of niobium metal[J]. International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials, 2023, 110: 106033. |
|
|
|