A Non Destructive Testing Technique Involving Fluorescent X-Ray Absorption Spectrometry for Measuring Chromium Plating Thickness on SS-316 Sub Assemblies of Indian Fast Breeder Test Reactor

摘要

The Rapsodie design of fast breeder reactor which India has opted, uses 316M Stainless Steel as a structural material for cladding. The free standing hexagonal 316M sub assembly which houses the fissile fuel or fertile blanket contains a formed circular projection in the form of a button coated with hard chromium for anti galling properties. The plating thickness is normally in the range of 15-20 microns. In the present work as a part of routine quality control a non destructive X-ray attenuation method has been developed to determine the chromium plating thickness on SS 316 in the range of 3-30 microns. The method is absolute, fast and reliable with an RSD of 2