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Title: EFFECT OF NEUTRON IRRADIATION ON THE PLASTIC DEFORMATION OF COPPER SINGLE CRYSTALS

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4032000

Copper single cryatals, subjected to a neutron dose of 3 x 10/sup 18/ nvt (total flux) at pile temperature, were examined after deformation by: observation of the load-extension relations, investigation of the slip line structures with the electron microscope, and diffraction electron microscopy of thinned-down single crystals before and after deformation. From the experimental data and results of previously published information, a mechanism for radiation hardening of copper was devised. Prismatic dislocation loops. apparently caused by condensation of vacancies, are found to be the most frequently produced radiation defect. The interaction between loops and glide dislocations results in heavily kinked dislocations which are responsible for the observed high yield stress. Processes are considered in which glide dislocations remove the radiation damage, and because of this cleaning out of radiation produced defects and the ability of the dislocations to multiply from new sources, the prolonged easy glide range can be explained. The proposed mechanism provides for an understanding of the work hardening in the linear and parabolic parts of the stress-strain curve. (auth)

Research Organization:
Franklin Inst. Labs. for Research and Development, Philadelphia
NSA Number:
NSA-15-016138
OSTI ID:
4032000
Report Number(s):
TID-12162
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-61
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English