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Damage stucture in zirconium alloys irradiated at 573 to 923/sup 0/K. [Neutron fluence 1 x 10/sup 25/ n. m/sup -2/]

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6652366

The microstructures of annealed zirconium, Zircaloy-2 and Zr-2.5 wt % Nb alloy and of Zr-2.5 Nb containing ..cap alpha..' were studied after neutron irradiation to fluences approximately equal to 1 x 10/sup 25/ n x m/sup -2/ in the temperature range 573 to 923/sup 0/K. The principal form of damage was dislocation loops which increased in size and decreased in density with increasing temperature and which did not exist above 773/sup 0/K. The Burgers vector of the loops was consistent with a/3 <1120>. Half or more of the loops were of vacancy type. No dislocation networks or voids were seen. It is argued that the bias of loops for self-interstitial atoms in ..cap alpha..-zirconium is very weak, permitting competitive vacancy and interstitial loops, preventing growth of loops into gross dislocation structure, and depressing the vacancy super-saturation so that voids cannot arise.

Research Organization:
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River, Ontario. Chalk River Nuclear Labs.; Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
6652366
Report Number(s):
CONF-780818-6
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English