Recent studies to the impact of a ceramic breeder environment on the mechanical properties of EUROFER97 under operating conditions

•EUROFER samples were annealed in a ceramic breeder environment at 550°С for 8–128 days.•The annealing leads to corrosion and results in a significant reduction in fatigue lifetime.•Corrosion is mainly caused by purge gas impurities, namely water and oxygen.•Hydrogen embrittlement due to annealing can be excluded.