RADIATION HARDENING OF COPPER SINGLE CRYSTALS

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1960 · J. Nuclear Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3115(60)90001-5· OSTI ID:4089135

Blewitt, T H; Coltman, R R; Jamison, R E; Redman, J K

The effect of nuclear radiation on the mechanical properties of copper was studied. It was found that the yield stress, which is substantially increased by the radiation, increases as the cube roet of the flux. A strong temperature dependence of the yield stress of irradiated copper was observed with the yield stress being given by a function similar to sigma = A - BT1/2 above 40 deg K. A Luders band with slip lines of very large step height was associated with the enhanced yield stress at small strains. At large strains the phenomenon of overshoot was observed. The annealing kinetics of the radiation hardness were also studied in the temperature range from 25 to 700 deg K. Little or no annealing was observed in the region below 80 deg K. In the region from 80 to 300 deg K, approximately 20% of the yield stress was recovered, with the remainder annealing in the range from 600 to 700 deg K. These results are discussed in terms of the possible mechanisms by which the hardening can occur. While by no means conclusive, these duta support a dislocation locking mechanism. On the other hand a very close analogy exists between radiation hardening and the hardening which arises from the addition of impurities, e.g., the hardening in alpha brass. The correlation between work hardening and radiation hardening appears to be quite small. (auth)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
• NSA Number: NSA-15-009524
• OSTI ID: 4089135
• Journal Information: J. Nuclear Materials, Journal Name: J. Nuclear Materials Vol. Vol: 2
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANNEALING
COPPER
DEFECTS
DEFORMATION
HARDNESS
IMPURITIES
LATTICES
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
TEMPERATURE
TEMPERING
TENSILE PROPERTIES