@article{ba1bef23953f406d8ca572a4c407e512,
title = "Dataset of scanning electron microscopy and nanoindentation profiles across electron beam welded SA508 Grade 3 Class 1 steel",
abstract = "This dataset captures the microstructural and mechanical property evolution across electron beam (EB) weldments in SA508 Grade 3 Class 1, a high-strength low-alloy steel used for nuclear reactor pressure vessels (RPV). The RPV is a critical safety structure and pressure boundary in a nuclear reactor, and as such, mechanical integrity is paramount. Historically, welds were undesirable in RPVs because of their embrittlement. However, advanced welding and manufacturing techniques offer the potential to overcome embrittlement, but they must first be qualified for use. Here, EB welds are made on SA508 manufactured by either powder metallurgy with hot isostatic pressing (PM-HIP) or forging. Scanning electron microscopy images and nanoindentation hardness measurements are collected across the weldments, along a trajectory normal to the weld centerline. Scanning electron microscopy image processing and stitching are described. These data support the determination of microstructure-mechanical property relationships in EB welded RPV steels. This dataset can be used to: (i) support qualification of EB welding and PM-HIP manufacturing for nuclear RPVs, (ii) demonstrate a high-throughput workflow for characterizing large-length scale microstructural heterogeneities , (iii) validate and verify predictive models, and (iv) train automated AI image analysis tools.",
keywords = "Low-alloy steel, Microstructure, Nanoindentation, Nuclear reactor pressure vessel, PM-HIP, Scanning electron microscopy",
author = "Nemets, \{Grayson A.\} and Marrero-Jackson, \{Elliot H.\} and Emerson, \{Jasmyne N.\} and Okuniewski, \{Maria A.\} and Wharry, \{Janelle P.\}",
note = "The authors thank David Gandy and Benjamin Sutton from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) for his assistance with material procurement; Thomas Dutilleul from the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at the University of Sheffield and William Kyffin formerly of Nuclear AMRC, for their assistance with EB welding and heat treatment; and Zhongxia Shang and Christopher Gilpin of Purdue University for their assistance with SEM characterization. This research was supported by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) through grant 31310021M0052 and by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) through contract DE-NE0008907. J.N.E. acknowledges partial support under a DOE-NE University Nuclear Leadership Program Graduate Fellowship; E.H.M.J. and G.A.N. acknowledges partial support under a NRC Graduate Fellowship through grant 31310021M0035. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. The authors thank David Gandy and Benjamin Sutton from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) for his assistance with material procurement; Thomas Dutilleul from the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at the University of Sheffield and William Kyffin formerly of Nuclear AMRC, for their assistance with EB welding and heat treatment; and Zhongxia Shang and Christopher Gilpin of Purdue University for their assistance with SEM characterization. This research was supported by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) through grant 31310021M0052 and by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) through contract DE-NE0008907. J.N.E. acknowledges partial support under a DOE-NE University Nuclear Leadership Program Graduate Fellowship; E.H.M.J. and G.A.N. acknowledges partial support under a NRC Graduate Fellowship through grant 31310021M0035.",
year = "2025",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1016/j.dib.2025.112158",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "63",
journal = "Data in Brief",
issn = "2352-3409",
publisher = "Elsevier Inc.",
}