PROCEDE DE CONTROLE ET/OU DE PREVISION DES PROPRIETES PHYSIQUES ET/OU MECANIQUES ET/OU CHIMIQUES D'UN ALLIAGE METALLIQUE

Hot or cold mechanical properties, irradiation swelling resistance and resistance to oxidation and/or corrosion of metal alloys, namely austenitic stainless steels, can be monitored and/or predicted by determining the total mass fraction precipitated in the alloy, before use and after the last stage of thermomechanical treatment in the production of the alloy. Determination of precipitated mass fraction and, optionally, the state of secondary precipitation and the relative amount of at least one element in the alloy in solid solution is performed by selective dissolution of the alloy matrix to recover a residue comprising a selectively extracted precipitated phase, followed by analysis of the precipitated phase. Selective dissolution of the alloy matrix is carried out electrochemically. The alloy is selected from austenitic stainless steels and austenitic stainless steels stabilized by an added element, e.g. steel grades 316, 304 and 15 Cr - 15 Ni. The added element is selected from V, Ti, Nb, V, Ta and Zr. Independent claims are given for: (a) a method of selection of an alloy having at least one optimal property under conditions of its use from a group of alloys with nominal chemical composition; (b) a method of manufacturing an alloy (preferably stabilized by Ti to provide irradiation swelling resistance) having at least one optimal property under conditions of its use; and (c) the manufactured alloy.