In another recent study of the compositional dependence of swelling in annealed iron-nickel-chromium alloys, it was found that some annealed alloys densified during irradiation. No precipitate phases were observed to form, however. At 593°C, one alloy, Fe-35.5Ni-7.5Cr, which was particularly resistant to swelling, increased in density 0.9% at 7.6 × 10²² neutrons (n)/cm² (E > 0.1 MeV).

Examination by energy dispersive X-ray analysis revealed that substantial oscillations occur in the nickel content of the alloy, varying from 25 to 53% about the nominal level of 35.5%. These oscillations exhibit a period of ∼200 nm. Regions enriched in nickel are depleted in chromium and iron, and the reverse is true in regions of low nickel content. This spinodal-like process produces a net densification and also appears to eventually destroy the swelling resistance of the alloy. Once voids form in the nickel-poor chromium-rich regions, further segregation of nickel to void surfaces is expected to accelerate the loss of swelling resistance.