Impact Factor:

6.0

DOI number:

10.1016/j.matchar.2026.116047

Journal:

Materials Characterization

Key Words:

Ferritic ODS steels; 14YWT; Cladding tubes; ShAPE; Friction extrusion

Abstract:

The need for advanced materials in nuclear reactors has spotlighted ferritic oxide dispersion strengthened steels for their excellent high-temperature strength, irradiation resistance, and corrosion tolerance. However, conventional powder metallurgy routes such as mechanical alloying often involve multiple processing steps which are complex, time consuming and costly. Additionally, such techniques are often associated with microstructural inhomogeneities and defects. The current study introduces a novel friction extrusion process for producing fully consolidated oxide dispersion strengthened steel rods from powder precursors. The rods are subsequently machined into tubes with an approximate wall thickness of ∼1 mm by drilling holes through their center. The process leverages intense shear deformation at a reduced temperature (∼1000 °C) to achieve consolidation and uniform dispersion of oxides. As proof of concept, pilgering was applied to fabricate thin-walled cladding tubes of ∼0.5 mm wall thickness from the extruded tubes with uniform cross-sections. Microstructural and mechanical characterization confirmed a high dispersion of nanometric oxides (>1020/ m3) in both the extruded and pilgered tubes along with enhanced mechanical properties, comparable to those achieved via conventional methods.

Co-author:

Jens Darsell, Dalong Zhang, Jia Liu, Kayla H Yano, Tingkun Liu, Xiang Wang, Xiao Li, Mark Rhodes, Stuart Maloy

First Author:

Aishani Sharma

Correspondence Author:

Eda Aydogan

Discipline:

Engineering

Document Type:

J

Page Number:

116047

Translation or Not:

no

Date of Publication:

2026-01-20

Included Journals:

SCI

Links to published journals:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1044580326000835