Characterization of Irradiation Effects in Metallic Alloys for Fusion and Fission Reactors
EMSL Project ID
49137
Abstract
The structural components of nuclear reactors encompasses a wide variety of various materials, including austenitic stainless steels, ferritic alloys, and zirconium alloys. The microstructural and microchemical changes that occur during neutron irradiation lead to significant degradation of strength and ductility and in some cases, changes in dimensions due to void swelling. Generation of helium through transmutation-induced reactions, coupled with displacement damage, sets the stage for helium bubble and void formation, each of which can severely embrittle most structural metal alloys and lead to substantial changes in the dimensions of individual components. This proposal is aimed at investigating the effects of neutron irradiation, and in some case, ion implantation that is used as a surrogate for neutron irradiation, on the microstructure of various metal alloys that are candidates for future generations of light water and fusion reactors. The proposal requests the use of the Quanta 3D FIB-SEM to prepare TEM samples from irradiated TEM discs to characterize the dislocation defects, radiation-induced phase changes, and helium distribution.
Project Details
Start Date
2015-10-14
End Date
2016-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Co-Investigator(s)
Team Members
Related Publications
Jung HJ, DJ Edwards, RJ Kurtz, T Yamamoto, Y Wu, and GR Odette. 2017. "Structural and Chemical Evolution in Neutron Irradiated and Helium-Injected Ferritic ODS PM2000 Alloy." Journal of Nuclear Materials 484:68-80. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.11.022