Study of the temperature evolution of defect agglomerates in neutron irradiated molybdenum single crystals

• Published in: Journal of nuclear materials Vol. 385; no. 3; pp. 552 - 558
• Main Authors: Lambri, O.A., Zelada-Lambri, G.I., Cuello, G.J., Bozzano, P.B., García, J.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15-04-2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Controled nuclear fusion plants; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fission nuclear power plants; Fuels; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; Nuclear fuels; 61.50.−f; 61.72−y; 61.12−q; 61.16−d; 72.15.Eb; Small angle neutron scattering; Concentration effect; Neutron irradiation; Thermal analysis; Dissolution; Molybdenum; Nuclear reactor
• ISSN: 0022-3115; 1873-4820
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2008.12.312

Small angle neutron scattering as a function of temperature, differential thermal analysis, electrical resistivity and transmission electron microscopy studies have been performed in low rate neutron irradiated single crystalline molybdenum, at room temperature, for checking the evolution of the defects agglomerates in the temperature interval between room temperature and 1200
K. The onset of vacancies mobility was found to happen in temperatures within the stage III of recovery. At around 550
K, the agglomerates of vacancies achieve the largest size, as determined from the Guinier approximation for spherical particles. In addition, the decrease of the vacancy concentration together with the dissolution of the agglomerates at temperatures higher than around 920
K was observed, which produce the release of internal stresses in the structure.