SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 2001
STP13649S

Correlating Radiation Exposure with Embrittlement: Comparative Studies of Electron- and Neutron-Irradiated Pressure Vessel Alloys

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Experiments comparing the embrittling effects of high-energy (10-MeV) electrons and test reactor fast neutrons have been performed to elucidate the role of primary damage state on reactor pressure vessel embrittlement. Electrons produce displacement damage primarily by low-energy atomic recoils, while fast neutrons produce displacements from considerably higher energy recoils. Comparison of changes resulting from neutron irradiation, in which nascent point-defect clusters can form in dense cascades, with electron irradiation, where cascade formation is minimized, can provide insight into the role that the in-cascade point-defect clusters have on embrittlement mechanisms. Yield strength changes induced by 10-MeV electrons or test reactor neutron irradiations of unalloyed iron and an Fe-0.9 wt.% Cu-1.0 wt.% Mn alloy were examined up to 1.5 x 10-2 dpa. The small alloying additions substantially enhanced embrittlement in both the electron- and neutron-irradiated samples relative to unalloyed iron. Similar embrittlement trends with increasing radiation damage were observed for electrons and neutrons in both the ternary and unalloyed iron. Preliminary results of small-angle X-ray scattering measurements of embrittled microstructures are also reported.

Author Information

Alexander, DE
Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL
Kestel, BJ
Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL
Rehn, LE
Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL
Odette, GR
University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
Lucas, GE
University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
Klingensmith, D
University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
Gragg, D
University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
Seifert, S
Argonne National Laboratory
Jemian, PR
Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, UNICAT, Argonne, IL
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Developed by Committee: E10
Pages: 617–624
DOI: 10.1520/STP13649S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5450-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-2884-2