Microstructural Evolution of an Ion Irradiated Ni–Mo–Cr–Fe Alloy at Elevated Temperatures

• Published in: MATERIALS TRANSACTIONS Vol. 55; no. 3; pp. 428 - 433
• Main Authors: Reyes, Massey de los, Edwards, Lyndon, Kirk, Marquis A., Bhattacharyya, Dhriti, Lu, Kim T., Lumpkin, Gregory R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sendai The Japan Institute of Metals and Materials 01-03-2014; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: defect evolution; ion irradiation effects; microstructure; molten salt nuclear reactors; nickel-based alloys; TEM in situ ion irradiation
• ISSN: 1345-9678; 1347-5320
• DOI: 10.2320/matertrans.MD201311

The irradiation behavior of a Ni–Mo–Cr–Fe alloy, of the type currently being considered for use in future molten salt cooled reactors, has been investigated in situ using 1 MeV Kr ions at temperatures of 723 and 973 K. When irradiated to 5 dpa, experimental observations reveal the instantaneous formation and annihilation of point defect clusters, with such processes attributed to the long range elastic interactions that occur between defects through multiple intra-cascade overlap. Corresponding differences in the defect cluster density and size distribution suggest that changes to the microstructure were dependent upon temperature and dose, affecting the growth, accumulation and mobility of irradiation-induced defect clusters under these conditions.