Indentation technique for evaluation of hot hardness and creep of SS 316 end-plug welds of nuclear,fuel pins

The high-temperature mechanical properties of SS 316 end-plug welds of nuclear fuel pins were studied using a hot hardness tester. The hardness was measured as a function of temperature on the base metal, weld pool and heat-affected zone from ambient temperature to 1273 K. Hardness was also measured as a function of dwell time from 873 to 1173 K to evaluate the activation energy for creep. The activation energy of the weld pool was found to be higher than that of the base metal. The indentation technique is very suitable for the evaluation of creep properties of very small components.