Columbium (Niobium) in Nuclear Quality Stainless

[rd400guy]

We make a nuclear quality stainless (T-316L) that requires very low columbium levels (niobium to those outside the U.S. steel industry). What detrimental effect would high (above 0.01%) columbium have in a nuclear power plant enviornment? TIA.

 

[HamishMcTavish]

Hi rd400guy,

Neutron activation of trace elements in steels causes radiation to be emitted even when the neutron field is no longer present. This causes problems during maintenance outages or eventually during the decommissioning phase.

e.g. see the following

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cache:DnkBu6jA33UJ:

http://www.fusion.ucla.edu/snowmass/questions/cq7/cq7_cheng.pdf+niobium+activation&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Regards, HM.

No more things should be presumed to exist than are absolutely necessary - William of Occam