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Model describing the compositional dependence of void nucleation in irradiated Fe-Ni-Cr alloys

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6833438

Recent experimental studies have shown that the major influence of environmental and material variables on the void swelling of Fe-Ni-Cr austenitic alloys resides in the duration of the transient regime. The post-transient or steady-state regime is remarkably insensitive to the factors that control void nucleation and reflects the tendency of radiation-induced microstructures to evolve toward a condition that assures attainment of the intrinsic swelling rate of Fe-Ni-Cr austenitic alloys, approx. 1%/dpa. These insights have led to a change of focus from rate theory descriptions of swelling to void nucleation theory. It is shown that the major features of the compositional dependence of swelling in simple austenitic alloys can be explained in terms of the compositional dependence of vacancy diffusivity and its impact on void nucleation. The model is demonstrated for the effects of nickel, chromium, silicon and phosphorus.

Research Organization:
Hanford Engineering Development Lab., Richland, WA (USA); Missouri Univ., Rolla (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76FF02170
OSTI ID:
6833438
Report Number(s):
HEDL-SA-3024-A; CONF-840604-4; ON: DE84010320
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English