Work continued on four major tasks of this project--increasing the circumferential strength of MA956 tubing, joining of the MA956 alloy, determining the bending limits of MA956 tubing, and determination of the high temperature corrosion limits of the MA956 alloy. With respect to increasing the circumferential strength of a MA956 tube, all of the extrusions plus decanning operations have been completed (total of 180 rods) for Task 2.1.1 (Extrusion Ratio = 20:1, 16:1, 10:1 and Extrusion Temperature = 1000, 1075, 1150, and 1200 C). Also, essentially all of the cold working operations have been completed (0, 10, 20, 30, 40%) with approximately 100 annealing treatments (1000, 1150, 1300 C) remaining. The sample microstructures produced by this processing continue to be analyzed. Creep testing to determine the ''stress threshold'' curves for this alloy continues. Regarding joining of the MA956 alloy, advances were made using transient liquid phase bonding. And finally, laboratory high temperature corrosion testing of the material continues (both fluid-side and fire-side) with fabrication of the field probes initiated.

Work continued on three major tasks of this project--increasing the circumferential strength of MA956 tubing, joining of the MA956 alloy, and determination of the high temperature corrosion limits of the MA956 alloy. With respect to increasing the circumferential strength of a MA956 tube, all of the cold working operations (0, 10, 20, 30, 40%) and annealing treatments (1000, 1150, 1300 C) have been completed. The sample microstructures produced by this processing continue to be analyzed with TEM results providing valuable information on the strengthening mechanism of this alloy. Creep testing to determine the ''stress threshold'' curves for this alloy continues. Regarding joining of the MA956 alloy, additional welds were produced with the friction welding and transient liquid phase bonding techniques. And finally, laboratory high temperature corrosion testing of the material continues in both fluid-side and fire-side simulated environments.