| This paper presents the results of comparative analysis for the samples of austenitic AISI 321 (18Cr-9Ni) steel in the as-received state and the state after the equal channel angular pressing (the ECAP-state) before and after the reactor irradiation on fast neutrons BIR-60 up to maximum damage dose 5.3 dpa at 350 °C. The results point out the mixed fragmentary character of the structure with a large non-homogeneity degree. The equiaxial fragments with the size of 300-400 nm have been observed along with the elongated grains with the size up to a few micrometers. The tensile testing of the irradiated steel in the ECAP-state has been conducted in the range of temperatures from 20 to 650 °C. It has been demonstrated that mechanical characteristics of the irradiated steel in the ECAP-state do not concede, or, they are even superior to the properties of an initial (coarse-grained) material. |
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