Origin of the large resistance to void swelling observed in Fe-35. 5Ni-7. 5Cr

Technical Report · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5329865

Brager, H R; Garner, F A

While it is well known that increases in the nickel content of austenitic steels delay swelling, less attention has been paid to the fact that decreases in the chromium level from the usual 15 to 18% range also suppress swelling. Neutron irradiation studies show the longest postponement of swelling in Fe-Ni-Cr alloys occuring at approx. 35 wt % nickel and 7.5% chromium. The causes of the suppression and the subsequent loss of swelling resistance have been sought using electron microscopy and quantitative x-ray microanalysis. Swelling in this alloy is preceded by a substantial densification arising from large radiation-induced spinodal-like micro-oscillations in composition which appear to destroy the resistance to void nucleation, such that void nucleation is favored in the nickel-poor chromium-rich regions. Alloys optimization efforts now concentrate on solute additions which are designed to delay the microsegregation process.

• Research Organization: Hanford Engineering Development Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76FF02170
• OSTI ID: 5329865
• Report Number(s): HEDL-SA-3327; ON: DE85018473
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360106* -- Metals & Alloys-- Radiation Effects
ALLOYS
BARYONS
BEAMS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FAST NEUTRONS
FERMIONS
HADRONS
ION BEAMS
IONS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
NEUTRON BEAMS
NEUTRONS
NICKEL ALLOYS
NICKEL IONS
NUCLEON BEAMS
NUCLEONS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
SWELLING