SEDL / STP / STP1047-EB / STP24958S

Microstructure of Neutron Irradiated Vanadium Alloys

Ohnuki, S
Associate professor, professor and instructor, Metals Research Institute, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo,

Takahashi, H
Associate professor, professor and instructor, Metals Research Institute, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo,

Kinoshita, H
Associate professor, professor and instructor, Metals Research Institute, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo,

Pages: 9    Published: Jan 1990

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Abstract

To investigate the effect of alloying elements on void formation and precipitation during neutron irradiation, vanadium and vanadium based alloys were irradiated in the experimental fast breeder reactor “JOYO” up to 6 × 10²⁵ n/m² at 670 to 870 K. Alloying elements were selected on the basis of volume size factors: carbon for an interstitial atom, chromium for an undersized substitutional atom and titanium and molybdenum are oversized ones. Voids were formed in all materials except in V-Ti alloys. The V-Cr alloy shows inhomogeneous void formation, and the swelling was larger compared to other alloys. The void formation was related to the radiation-induced precipitates which nucleated on dislocations. In the matrix of the V-Mo alloy, the precipitation was not confirmed, and homogeneous void formation occurred so the swelling was not large. Void formation and precipitation are discussed on the basis of alloying effects.