Tailoring Microstructure of Austenitic Stainless Steel with Improved Performance for Generation-IV Fast Reactor Application: A Review

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The article presents the results of the latest achievements in the field of structural materials used for operation in conditions of increased background radiation, as well as external influences. The authors chose austenitic stainless steels as objects for preparing the review, which have great prospects in reactor construction, including their use as materials for the first wall of the core of a nuclear reactor. In the review, the authors dwell in sufficient detail on the effects of the influence of the concentration of various elements, including nitrogen or stabilizing additives, on hardening and increasing the resistance to creep and aging, as well as the precipitation of secondary phases. In general, this review is very promising and has great scientific and practical significance in this area of research, and will also be of interest to those who study the prospects for the use of austenitic steels in reactor construction. The article corresponds to the subject of the declared journal and can be accepted for publication after the authors answer a number of clarifying questions related to the choice of research objects, as well as their prospects.

1. In the abstract, the authors should pay more attention to the choice of the object of research and what exactly is the prospect of using these austenitic steels in comparison with other types of materials.

2. When describing the separation of secondary phases, the authors should give more descriptions of this effect associated with processes caused by nuclear reactions under the action of neutrons, and also indicate the influences for this nickel and chromium.

3. The article should be proofread again by a native speaker in order to eliminate minor flaws in the text.

Author Response

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Reviewer 2 Report

This manuscript is an extensive review that is useful especially for the young scientist generation. As materials for Gen IV fast reactors will be exposed for high damage doses (more than 100 dpa), it is necessary to describe the influence of the mentioned factors as well as the role of alloying elements and microstructural features on the radiation resistance. In the latest decades a lot of APT-studies of irradiated stainless steels appeared in different publications. This review practically does not contain this data. Addition of this information will fullfil the review and make it more actual. 

Author Response

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