Composition of Common Engineering Materials

The wide variety of structures, systems, and components found in DOE nuclear facilities are made from many different types of materials. Many of the materials are alloys with a base metal of iron, nickel, or zirconium. The selection of a material for a specific application is based on many factors including the temperature and pressure that the material will be exposed to, the materials resistance to specific types of corrosion, the materials toughness and hardness, and other material properties.

One material that has wide application in the systems of DOE facilities is stainless steel. There are nearly 40 standard types of stainless steel and many other specialized types under various trade names. Through the modification of the kinds and quantities of alloying elements, the steel can be adapted to specific applications. Stainless steels are classified as austenitic or ferritic based on their lattice structure. Austenitic stainless steels, including 304 and 316, have a facecentered cubic structure of iron atoms with the carbon in interstitial solid solution. Ferritic stainless steels, including type 405, have a body-centered cubic iron lattice and contain no nickel. Ferritic steels are easier to weld and fabricate and are less susceptible to stress corrosion cracking than austenitic stainless steels. They have only moderate resistance to other types of chemical attack.

Other metals that have specific applications in some DOE nuclear facilities are inconel and zircaloy. The composition of these metals and various types of stainless steel are listed in Table 2 below.