SEDL / STP / STP529-EB / STP35455S

Attrition and Stabilization of Void Nuclei: Critical Nucleus Size

Beeler, JR
Professor, materials engineering and nuclear engineering, and research assistant, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C

Beeler, MF
Professor, materials engineering and nuclear engineering, and research assistant, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C

Pages: 14    Published: Jan 1973

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Abstract

Computer experiments were performed on the effect of impurity atoms, hydrostatic pressure, uniaxial tension, and radiation attrition on void nucleus stability in alpha-iron. The critical void nucleus size was found to be a 44-vacancy octahedral (bipyramidal) void with (110) facets. Helium atoms, oversize metallic impurity atoms, and carbon-vacancy complexes served as strong centers for heterogeneous nucleation of voids. Carbon-vacancy complexes at void apexes and corners inhibited thermal dissociation. The amount and tenacity of vacancy trapping by carbon atoms increased with hydrostatic pressure up to 110 kilobars.