Treatment for overcoming irradiation induced stress corrosion cracking in austenitic alloys such as stainless steel

Claim 1

A method of reducing stress corrosion cracking attributable in part to irradiation, in an austenitic type alloy, consisting essentially of heating an irradiated austenitic alloy selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and nickel-based alloy by heating to an approximate temperature range of about 400° to about 500° C. and holding the austenitic alloy at the temperature in said approximate temperature range over a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature, comprising about 24 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 2

A method of reducing stress corrosion cracking attributable in part to irradiation, in an austenitic type alloy, consisting essentially of heating an irradiated austenitic alloy selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and nickel-based alloy by heating to an approximate temperature range of about 400° to about 500° C. and holding the austenitic alloy at the temperature in said approximate temperature range over a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature, comprising about 24 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 3

A method of reducing stress corrosion cracking attributable in part to irradiation, in a stainless steel of the austenitic type, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated chromium-nickel austentic stainless steel by heating to a temperature range of about 350° to about 500° C. and holding the stainless steel at said temperature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the tempeature, of about 172 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 4

A method of reducing stress corrosion cracking attributable in part to irradiation, in a stainless steel of the austenitic type, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated chromium-nickel austentic stainless steel by heating to a temperature range of about 350° to about 500° C. and holding the stainless steel at said temperature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the tempeature, of about 172 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 5

A method of reducing stress corrosion cracking, attributable at least in part to exposure to irradiation, in stainless steel of the austenitic type, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated chromium-nickel austenitic stainless steel by heating to an approximate temperature of about 400° to about 500° C. and holding the stainless steel at said approximate temperature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature, of about 24 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 6

A method of reducing stress corrosion cracking, attributable at least in part to exposure to irradiation, in stainless steel of the austenitic type, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated chromium-nickel austenitic stainless steel by heating to an approximate temperature of about 400° to about 500° C. and holding the stainless steel at said approximate temperature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature, of about 24 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 8

A method of reducing stress corrosion cracking, attributable at least in part to exposure to irradiation, in stainless steel of the austenitic type, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated stainlees steel alloy comprising about 16 to about 20 percent weight of chromium and about 6 to about 15 percent weight of nickel by heating to a temperature range of about 400° to about 500° C. and holding the stainless steel at said temperature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature, of about 24 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 9

A method of reducing stress corrosion cracking, attributable at least in part to exposure to irradiation, in stainless steel of the austenitic type, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated stainlees steel alloy comprising about 16 to about 20 percent weight of chromium and about 6 to about 15 percent weight of nickel by heating to a temperature range of about 400° to about 500° C. and holding the stainless steel at said temperature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature, of about 24 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 11

A method of reducing stress corrosion cracking, attributable at least in part to exposure to irradiation, in stainless steel of the austentic type, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated stainless steel alloy consisting essentially of about 16 to about 20 percent weight of chromium and about 6 to 15 percent weight of nickel with up to a maximum of about 2 percent weight of manganese and the balance iron with only incidental impurities, by heating to an approximate temperature range of about 400° to about 500° C. and holding the stainless steel at said tempeature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature, of about 24 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 12

A method of reducing stress corrosion cracking, attributable at least in part to exposure to irradiation, in stainless steel of the austentic type, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated stainless steel alloy consisting essentially of about 16 to about 20 percent weight of chromium and about 6 to 15 percent weight of nickel with up to a maximum of about 2 percent weight of manganese and the balance iron with only incidental impurities, by heating to an approximate temperature range of about 400° to about 500° C. and holding the stainless steel at said tempeature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature, of about 24 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 15

The method of reducing stress corrosion cracking, attributable at least in part to exposure to irradiation, in stainless steel of the austenitic type, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated stainless steel alloy consisting essentially of about 18 to about 20 percent weight of chromium and about 8 to 12 percent weight of nickel with up to a maximum of about 2 percent weight of manganese and the balance iron with only incidental impurities, by heating to an approximate temperature range of about 350° to about 500° C. and holding the stainless steel at the temperature in said approximate temperature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature, of about 172 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 16

The method of reducing stress corrosion cracking, attributable at least in part to exposure to irradiation, in stainless steel of the austenitic type, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated stainless steel alloy consisting essentially of about 18 to about 20 percent weight of chromium and about 8 to 12 percent weight of nickel with up to a maximum of about 2 percent weight of manganese and the balance iron with only incidental impurities, by heating to an approximate temperature range of about 350° to about 500° C. and holding the stainless steel at the temperature in said approximate temperature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature, of about 172 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 18

A method reducing stress corrosion cracking, attributable in part to irradiation, in a manufactured article of a stainless steel of the austenitic type, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated article of manufacture composed of chromium-nickel austenitic stainless steel by heating the article to an approximate temperature range of about 350° up to about 500° C. and holding the stainless steel article at the temperature in said apporoximate temperature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature, of about 172 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 19

A method reducing stress corrosion cracking, attributable in part to irradiation, in a manufactured article of a stainless steel of the austenitic type, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated article of manufacture composed of chromium-nickel austenitic stainless steel by heating the article to an approximate temperature range of about 350° up to about 500° C. and holding the stainless steel article at the temperature in said apporoximate temperature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature, of about 172 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 21

A method of reducing stress corrosion cracking, attributable at least in part to irradiation, in a manufactured article of a stainless steel of the austenitic type, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated article of manufacture composed of a stainless steel alloy comprising about 16 to 20 percent weight of chromium and about 6 to about 15 percent weight of nickel by heating to an approximate temperature range of about 400° to about 500° C. and holding the stainless steel article at said temperature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature, of about 24 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 22

A method of reducing stress corrosion cracking, attributable at least in part to irradiation, in a manufactured article of a stainless steel of the austenitic type, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated article of manufacture composed of a stainless steel alloy comprising about 16 to 20 percent weight of chromium and about 6 to about 15 percent weight of nickel by heating to an approximate temperature range of about 400° to about 500° C. and holding the stainless steel article at said temperature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature, of about 24 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 23

The method of reducing stress corrosion cracking, attributable at least in part to exposure to irradiation, in a manufactured article of austenitic stainless steel, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated article of manufacture composed of a stainless steel alloy consisting essentially of about 18 to about 20 percent weight of chromium and about 8 to 12 percent weight of nickel with a maximum of up to about 2 percent weight of manganese and the balance iron with only incidental impurities, by heating to an approximate temperature range of about 350° to about 500° C. and holding said stainless steel article of manufacture at the temperature in said approximate temperature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature, of about 172 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmosperic ambient conditions.

Claim 24

The method of reducing stress corrosion cracking, attributable at least in part to exposure to irradiation, in a manufactured article of austenitic stainless steel, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated article of manufacture composed of a stainless steel alloy consisting essentially of about 18 to about 20 percent weight of chromium and about 8 to 12 percent weight of nickel with a maximum of up to about 2 percent weight of manganese and the balance iron with only incidental impurities, by heating to an approximate temperature range of about 350° to about 500° C. and holding said stainless steel article of manufacture at the temperature in said approximate temperature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature, of about 172 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmosperic ambient conditions.

Claim 26

A method of reducing stress corrosion cracking, attributable in part to irradiation, in an austenitic type nickel-based alloy, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated austenitic nickel-based alloy by heating to an approximate temperature range of about 350° to about 500° C. and holding the austenitic type nickel-based alloy at the temperature in said approximate temperature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature of about 172 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 27

A method of reducing stress corrosion cracking, attributable in part to irradiation, in an austenitic type nickel-based alloy, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated austenitic nickel-based alloy by heating to an approximate temperature range of about 350° to about 500° C. and holding the austenitic type nickel-based alloy at the temperature in said approximate temperature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature of about 172 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 29

A method of reducing stress corrosion cracking attributable in part to irradiation, in an article of manufacture of an austenitic type nickel-based alloy, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated article of manufacture composed of austenitic nickel-based alloy consisting of a major amount of nickel and minor amounts of chromium and iron, by heating to a temperature range of about 350° to about 500° C. and holding saids nickel-based alloy article of manufacture at said temperature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature, of about 172 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.

Claim 30

A method of reducing stress corrosion cracking attributable in part to irradiation, in an article of manufacture of an austenitic type nickel-based alloy, consisting essentially of treating an irradiated article of manufacture composed of austenitic nickel-based alloy consisting of a major amount of nickel and minor amounts of chromium and iron, by heating to a temperature range of about 350° to about 500° C. and holding saids nickel-based alloy article of manufacture at said temperature range for a period, varying inversely proportional with the temperature, of about 172 hours to about one hour, said heating and holding of the temperature for the alloy being under normal atmospheric ambient conditions.