Examination of 304L Stainless Steel to 6061-T6 Aluminum Inertia Welded Transition Joints after Irradiation in a Spallation Neutron Spectrum
SourceTritium target/blanket assemblies were irradiated for six months at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE). Stainless steel to aluminum inertia weld transition joints were welded to the target/blanket assemblies to simulate expected transition joints in the Accelerator Production of Tritium (APT) where as many as a thousand SS/Al weld transition joints will be used. No leaking at the inertia-welded interface was observed following irradiation. The galvanic interaction at the 6061 Al to 304L stainless steel inertia-welded interface did not present significant degradation as a result of the irradiation or the cooling water chemistry. General corrosion was evident along the entire length of the aluminum piping and pitting corrosion was present along the aluminum piping and is attributed to the conductivity of and the copper deposits in the cooling water. The reduction or elimination of impurities in the cooling water will aid in corrosion control of the aluminum piping.