SEDL / STP / STP870-EB / STP37359S

Transmission Electron Microscope Studies and Microhardness Testing of Irradiated Ferritic Steels

Hulett, DK
Graduate student, Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, and professor, Department of Materials Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Jesser, WA
Graduate student, Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, and professor, Department of Materials Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Pages: 16    Published: Jan 1985

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Abstract

Model alloys of ferritic steels were irradiated to a low fluence of 1 × 10²³ neutrons (n)/m² at temperatures 544, 580, and 599 K. These alloys were pure iron, Fe-0.1C, Fe-0.1C-0.15Cu, and Fe-0.1C-0.28Cu. Specific attention was given to the copper-containing alloys in correlating microstructural changes as observed in the transmission electron microscope (TEM) with hardness changes measured using Vickers microhardness tests. The post-irradiation microstructure did not exhibit characteristic radiation damage; no voids, bubbles, or dislocation loops were observed. The hardness changes were related to the semi-quantitatively obtained amount of copper not bound in TEM-observable copper-containing precipitates. The copper unaccounted for in observed precipitates was shown to be the primary influence on hardness changes.