Method of treating a coating on a reactor coolant pump sealing surface.

摘要

A method of treating a chromium carbide coating (80) on an annular sealing surface (58) of a stainless steel sealing assembly component (74) for use in a nuclear reactor coolant pump (14), the chromium carbide coating (80) area on the stainless steel sealing surface (58) is encased by a cover member; the encased area is evacuated; and the stainless steel sealing assembly component (74) and the chromium carbide coating (80) thereon encased by the cover (94) are then subjected to hot isostatic pressing whereby the coating (80) is densified to substantially its full theoretical density and the metallurgical bond of the coating (80) to the surface (58) of the sealing assembly component (74) is improved.