Chromium manganese - nitrogen bearing stainless alloy having excellent thermal neutron absorption ability

Abstract

This high chromium manganese and nitrogen bearing austenitic stainless alloys have superior strength, high corrosion resistance, excellent weldability and advanced thermal neutron absorption ability. These austenitic iron based stainless alloys have incorporated the neutron absorbing elements as single: gadolinium, hafnium, boron or as a mixture and its in-situ nitrides.

1 . Austenitic stainless steel having excellent thermal neutron absorption ability, comprising of the following chemical composition on the weight % basis: gadolinium at from about 0.001% to 15%; chromium at from about 11% to 48%; manganese at from about 0.5% to 30%; nitrogen at from about 0.001% to 1.2%; carbon at from about 0.001% to 2.2%; scandium at from about 0.0001% to 1.5%; boron 0% to about 5%; hafnium at from about 0.001 to 12%; nickel at from about 4% to 30%; silicon 0% to about 4%; copper 0% to about 6%; molybdenum 0% to about 6%, said alloy further comprising 0 to 3% of each of one or more of zirconium, vanadium, cerium, titanium, tantalum, tungsten, niobium, aluminum cobalt, calcium , magnesium and rare-earth elements, the balance comprising iron and inevitable impurities. 
   
   
       2 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises at least one of molybdenum, silicon, copper, boron, each in an amount of at least 0.001% by weight. 
   
   
       3 . Alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises 18% to 28% by weight of chromium and the molybdenum comprises 0.5% to 4.5% by weight and manganese comprises 4.5% to 12% by weight, nitrogen comprises 0.3% to 0.55% by weight, gadolinium comprises 0.1% to 4.5% by weight, nickel comprises 8% to 16% by weight. 
   
   
       4 . The alloy of  claim 3  wherein comprises hafnium 0.01 to 0.3% by weight, scandium comprise 0.001% to 0.05% by weight, carbon comprises less than 0.04% by weight and is configured as canister. 
   
   
       5 . Alloy of  claim 1  wherein the alloy comprises chromium 20% to 26% by weight, molybdenum 1.5% to 3.5% by weight, manganese 11% to 13%, nitrogen 0.45% to 65% by weight, gadolinium 1.5% to 3%, nickel 10% to 14% by weight. 
   
   
       6 . The alloy of  claim 5  wherein the alloy comprise boron 0.005% to 0.5% by weight, scandium 0.001% to 0.09% by weight, carbon less than 0.03% by weight. 
   
   
       7 . The alloy of  claim 6  wherein the alloy comprises hafnium 0.001% to 0.5% by weight and is configured as canister-basket interior.