SEDL / STP / STP955-EB / STP33820S

Nucleation, Growth, and Distribution of Cavities in the Vicinity of Grain Boundaries in Aluminum Irradiated with 600-MeV Protons

Victoria, M
Senior scientists, Swiss Federal Institute for Reactor Research, Wurenlingen,

Green, WV
Senior scientists, Swiss Federal Institute for Reactor Research, Wurenlingen,

Singh, BN
Senior scientists, Metallurgy Department, Risø National Laboratory, Roskilde,

Leffers, T
Senior scientists, Metallurgy Department, Risø National Laboratory, Roskilde,

Pages: 9    Published: Jan 1987

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Abstract

High-purity aluminum (99.9999%) was irradiated with 600-MeV protons with a damage rate of 3.5 × 10⁻⁶ dpa/s and a helium generation rate of 214 atomic parts per million (appm) per dpa. The irradiation experiments were carried out at temperatures in the range 120 to 140°C to doses up to 5 dpa. Transmission electron microscopy on irradiated specimens showed that voids are formed only in a narrow band in the vicinity of the void denuded zone along grain boundaries. Both the density and the size of voids in this band vary as a function of distance from the denuded zone. Changes in irradiation dose and temperatures do not seem to affect the spatial distribution of voids in the band. These results are compared with the results obtained on high-purity aluminum irradiated with fast neutrons. The bubble formation behavior in the grain interior and in the band containing voids is briefly described. The effect of bubble formation on the growth behavior of voids is discussed.