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Irradiation-induced microstructural evolution and mechanical properties in Iron-Chromium


Investigators: Carolyn Tomchik

Iron-chromium alloys are used as a model to study the microstructural evolution of defects in irradiated structural steel components of a nuclear reactor. We examine the effects of temperature and chromium concentration on the defect evolution, segregation behaviour, and second phase precipitation in the early stages of damage. In-situ irradiations are conducted at the IVEM-Tandem facility at Argonne National Laboratory at 300°C, 450°C, and 550°C with 150keV Fe ions in single crystal Fe14Cr and Fe19Cr bicrystal to doses of 2E15 ions/cm2. The microstructures of the irradiated iron-chromium alloys are characterized by analysis of TEM micrographs and compared with those of pure iron.  We plan to correlate the microstructural changes in the materials to changes in the material properties through materials testing and multiscale modeling efforts.