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Title: Microstructural characterization of irradiated Fe-Cu-Ni-P model steels

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5956965

The microstructure of Fe-Cu-Ni-P model pressure vessel steels after neutron irradiation and thermal aging has been characterized by atom probe field-ion microscopy and augmented by transmission electron microscopy. High densities of small, roughly spherical or disc shaped copper clusters/precipitates were observed in the neutron irradiated alloys that contained copper. Small spherical phosphorus clusters were observed in the irradiated copper-free alloys, and copper phosphides were observed in a high phosphorus Fe-Cu-Ni-P alloy. None of these clusters/precipitates were observed in the thermally aged materials. The increases in the tensile and yield strengths that were observed after neutron irradiation resulted from these clusters and other lattice defects. 14 refs., 8 figs., 2 tabs.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA); Florida Univ., Gainesville (USA). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering; Materials Engineering Associates, Inc., Lanham, MD (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
5956965
Report Number(s):
CONF-870839-5; ON: DE88000573
Resource Relation:
Conference: 3. international symposium on environmental degradation of materials in nuclear power systems: water reactors, Traverse City, MI, USA, 30 Aug 1987; Other Information: Paper copy only, copy does not permit microfiche production
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English