Mobilization from austenitic stainless steel in air and steam: recent tests, compilation of data from tests to date, and resulting dose calculations

A failure in the vacuum plasma chamber of a fusion reactor could result in the intrusion of air or steam causing oxidation of activated materials comprising plasma facing and structural components. Oxides formed may then be mobilized by mechanisms involving either volatilized or spalled oxides. We have measured the mobilization of various elements from austenitic stainless steels, which is a candidate structural material, using transpiration test methods. This paper compiles all data for this type of alloy from our experimental studies performed from 1983 to 1996 and presents dose calculations resulting from the updated database.