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U.S. Department of Energy
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Ion-induced spinodal-like decomposition of Fe-Ni-Cr Invar alloys

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6948520

It was recently discovered that Fe-Cr-Ni alloys with 35 +-10 wt.% nickel decompose in a spinodal-like manner when irradiated with fast neutrons. This unexpected decomposition has many consequences. Not only do the anomalous properties characteristic of the Invar compositional regime disappear, but pronounced changes occur in both tensile properties and void swelling. Ion bombardment experiments have also been used to study void swelling and are now being used to study the decomposition. Microscopy and EDX examination of specimens employed in earlier void swelling studies confirm that ion irradiation induces spinodal-like decomposition in these alloys. The period and amplitude of the compositional fluctuations induced by irradiation are sensitive to temperature, nickel content and perhaps crystallographic direction, but are not very sensitive to chromium content or displacement rate.

Research Organization:
Hanford Engineering Development Lab., Richland, WA (USA); Wisconsin Univ., Madison (USA); General Electric Co., Sunnyvale, CA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76FF02170
OSTI ID:
6948520
Report Number(s):
HEDL-SA-3280-FP; CONF-8510160-21; ON: DE87004091
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English