The investigation of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) materials from decommissioned nuclear power plants (NPP) offers the unique opportunity to scrutinize the irradiation behavior under real conditions. The paper describes the investigation of trepans taken from the decommissioned WWER-440 RPVs of the Greifswald NPP. The key part of the testing is aimed at the determination of the reference temperature T0 following the ASTM Test Standard E1921 to determine the fracture toughness of the RPV steel in different thickness locations. In a first step, the trepan taken from the RPV Greifswald Unit 1 containing the multilayer welding seam located in the beltline region was investigated. This welding seam represents the irradiated, recovery annealed, and reirradiated condition. It is shown that the Master Curve approach as adopted in ASTM E1921 is applicable to the investigated original WWER-440 weld metal. The evaluated T0 varies through the thickness of the welding seam. After an initial increase of T0 from 10°C at the inner surface to 49°C at 22 mm distance from it, T0 decreases to −32°C at a distance of 70 mm, finally increasing again to 61°C near the outer RPV wall. The lowest T0 value was measured in the root region of the welding seam representing a uniform fine grain ferritic structure. The highest T0 of the weld seam was not measured at the inner wall surface. This is important for the assessment of ductile-to-brittle temperatures measured on subsize Charpy specimens made of weld metal compact samples removed from the inner RPV wall. Our findings imply that these samples do not represent the most conservative condition. Nevertheless, the Charpy transition temperature, TT41J, estimated with results of subsize specimens after the recovery annealing, was confirmed by the testing of standard Charpy V-notch specimens.
Domestic orders are delivered via United Parcel Service (UPS) or United States Postal Service (USPS). Transit
times average 3 to 5 business days. Please be aware that UPS will not deliver packages to Post Office Boxes.
International orders are delivered via courier post services which can be either a postal service, courier
service, or a combination of both. Standard Service is untraceable. Please allow 4-7 weeks for delivery.
Please be aware that carriers will not deliver packages to Post Office Boxes. Because of the variability of
customs processes and procedures in different countries, ASTM International cannot guarantee transit times to
international destinations. Customs duty and taxes are the responsibility of the consignee.
Shipping & Handling charges follow the rate schedule, below:
Order Total
Shipping & Handling Fee (US Domestic)
Up to $50.00
$18.72
$50.01 to $100.00
$20.80
$100.01 to $150.00
$29.52
$150.01 to $250.00
$39.09
$250.01 to $500.00
$56.25
$500.01 to $750.00
$76.42
$750.01 to $1000.00
$93.15
$1000.01 to $1500.00
$121.27
$1500.01 to $2500.00
$158.38
$2500.01 to $4999.00
$209.04
$5000.00 to higher
FREE
Order Total
Shipping & Handling Fee (International)
Up to $50.00
$68.72
$50.01 to $100.00
$70.80
$100.01 to $150.00
$79.52
$150.01 to $250.00
$89.09
$250.01 to $500.00
$106.25
$500.01 to $750.00
$126.42
$750.01 to $1000.00
$143.15
$1000.01 to $1500.00
$171.27
$1500.01 to $2500.00
$208.38
$2500.01 to $4999.00
$259.04
$5000.00 to higher
FREE
Shipping and Handling charges are approximate. Additional charges may be incurred if your order requires multiple shipments. This does not apply to complete sets and sections.