Stainless Steel Piping in Nuclear Power Plants: Corrosion Resistance and Radiation Stability

Stainless steel pipes are critical in nuclear power plants, used in cooling systems, steam generators, and reactor components.

• Radiation Resistance: Austenitic stainless steels (304L, 316L) maintain mechanical integrity under neutron irradiation, unlike ferritic steels that suffer embrittlement.
• Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) Prevention: Low-carbon grades (L-series) and optimized water chemistry (low chloride levels) prevent SCC in nuclear environments.
• Welding Considerations: Autogenous GTAW is preferred to minimize contamination, while boron-free stainless steel is used to avoid neutron absorption.