Abstract
Following neutron irradiation of an aluminium component (1080 grade aluminium) from the high flux Australian reactor (HIFAR) to fluences of up to 2.6 × 10 26 thermal neutrons m −2, precipitation of up to 0.64 wt% radiogenic silicon has been observed using TEM. The onset of visible silicon precipitation occurred at 0.2 × 10 26 thermal neutrons m −2. At fluences ⩾1.8 × 10 26 thermal neutrons m −2 diffraction spots due to crystalline silicon were detectable using selected area electron diffraction. This technique showed that the silicon precipitate was predominantly in a cube//cube relationship with the matrix, with twinning observed on the {1 1 1} Si plane. This twinning influenced the shapes of the particles, which exhibited {1 0 0} and {1 1 1} type facets. A second minor orientation relationship (Kobayashi) was also observed.
Published Version
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