ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
Latest Magazine Issues
Jun 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
July 2026
Nuclear Technology
June 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
May 2026
Latest News
Antares achieves zero-power criticality at INL
Leveraging more than $140 million in private capital fundraising, over 322,000 square feet of operational manufacturing space, and multifaceted partnerships with the Departments of Energy and Defense, reactor start-up Antares has become the first company involved in the Reactor Pilot Program to achieve zero-power fueled criticality—a full month ahead of the July 4 deadline set by President Trump’s Executive Order 14301.
This milestone, announced yesterday, was achieved with the company’s Mark-0: a sodium heat-pipe-cooled, TRISO-fueled microreactor. The Mark-0 is a forerunner to the company’s flagship design, which it calls the R1. For Antares, this development represents a key validation of its reactor physics, control systems, and supply chain.
Vamsi Krishna K, Gopi Krishna C, Nagendra Polamarasetty, Mahesh Kumar Talari, Vijay N. Nadakuduru, Kishore Babu Nagumothu
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 80 | Number 1 | January 2024 | Pages 82-97
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2023.2200523
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In the present study, the microstructural and mechanical properties of Ti-15V-3Cr-3Al-3Sn (Ti-1533) and Ti-6Al-4V (Ti-64) electron beam welds have been studied. Optical microscopy investigations revealed the presence of three different zones, namely, the fusion zone (FZ), the heat-affected zone (HAZ), and the base metal (BM). In Ti-1533 weld, the BM comprises equiaxed β grains while the FZ consists of large columnar β grains. Further, the HAZ constitutes coarse equiaxed β grains near the FZ. However, in the case of Ti-64 weld, the BM comprises a slightly elongated α phase and transformed β phase while the FZ consists of an acicular martensitic phase. Welds prepared with Ti-1533 exhibit a lower ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 726 ± 5 MPa, yield strength (YS) of 702 ± 5 MPa, and % elongation (%El) of 12 compared to its BM (YS: 738 ± 5 MPa; UTS: 778 ± 5 MPa; %El: 15). The lower strength in Ti-1533 weld is due to the presence of coarse columnar β grains in the FZ while Ti-64 weld exhibits superior tensile properties (UTS: 993 ± 5 MPa; YS: 959 ± 4 MPa; %El: 9) compared to its BM (UTS: 910 ± 5 MPa; YS: 856 ± 5 MPa; %El: 14). The higher strength for Ti-64 weld could be attributed to the formation of acicular martensitic α′ in the FZ. However, Ti-64 welds subjected to postweld heat treatment (PWHT) showed a decrease in strength (UTS: 922 ± 4 MPa; YS: 858 ± 4; %El: 12) compared to as-welded Ti-64 welds. This is attributed to the formation of the diffusional product α+β phase in the FZ. In contrast, Ti-1533 welds subjected to PWHT showed a rapid increase in tensile property (UTS: 1224 ± 6MPa; YS: 1205 ± 8; %El: 9) values and hardness (380 HV) values compared to as-welded Ti-1533 welds. This increase in strength after PWHT is due to uniform precipitation of alpha particles in the β matrix, which was evidenced by transmission electron microscope results.