Enhanced Ductile-to-brittle Transition Temperature of SA508 Gr.3 via Additive Manufacturing

The neutron irradiation-induced increase in ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) restricts the operational life of nuclear power plants. This study explores the potential of additive manufacturing technology to address this challenge. Using powder bed fusion (PBF), we produced a sample of SA508 Gr.3, a reactor pressure vessel material, and compared its mechanical properties with a conventionally manufactured sample. The PBF-printed sample exhibited a remarkable 114% increase in yield strength and a 58.3% increase in ultimate tensile strength compared to the conventionally made sample. Furthermore, the DBTT of the PBF-printed sample decreased by over 50 K compared to its conventionally made counterpart. These findings highlight the significant improvements in mechanical strength and DBTT achievable through additive manufacturing, demonstrating its feasibility for manufacturing reactor pressure vessels. This approach holds promise for extending the operational life of nuclear power plants.