Abstract

Iron-chromium alloys are the basis for ferritic and ferritic-martensitic steels that will be used in future fission (generation IV) and fusion nuclear reactors. With Cr content between typically 8 to 12% [1], or even 14% in the matrix of some oxide dispersion-strengthened steels [2], one can expect the precipitation of a Cr-rich α’ phase that can be strongly accelerated under irradiation, due to point defect supersaturation. This precipitation can cause hardening and embrittlement. Radiation-induced segregation (RIS) is another important technological problem. It can lead to a Cr depletion at grain boundaries and therefore to a loss of corrosion resistance and again, to embrittlement. RIS in austenitic steels is well known and presents almost systematic trends: depletions of Cr and enrichments of Ni at grain boundaries. In ferritic steels, the experimental situation is far from being so clear: depletions and enrichments of Cr have been observed, without clear correlation with the irradiation conditions and the materials properties [3].

Highlights

  • Radiation-induced segregation (RIS) results from the elimination of excess vacancies (V) and self-interstitials (I) on sinks such as dislocations, grain boundaries, or free surfaces

  • RIS can be analyzed properly in the framework of the thermodynamics of irreversible processes, that gives the flux of a specie α as a function of the gradients of chemical potentials μβ : Jα =-∑Lαβ∇μβ

  • Atomistic Kinetic Monte Carlo (AKMC) simulations with thermodynamic and point defect parameters fitted on DFT calculations Good description of driving forces, diffusion properties and nucleation In Fe-Cr alloys

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Summary

Centre of Excellence for Nuclear Materials

Atomistic Modelling of Segregation and Precipitation in Fe-Cr Alloys under Irradiation. With Cr content between typically 8 to 12% [1], or even 14% in the matrix of some oxide dispersion-strengthened steels [2], one can expect the precipitation of a Cr-rich α’ phase that can be strongly accelerated under irradiation, due to point defect supersaturation. The simulations are able to well reproduce the thermodynamic [4] and diffusion [5] properties of dilute and concentrated alloys, including the effects of the magnetic configurations and magnetic transitions, which are especially important in Fe-Cr alloys They give kinetics pf precipitation during isothermal annealing in good agreement with experimental studies [5]. The AKMC enables to study the interaction between segregation and precipitation [9]: typical cases will be presented

DFe Fe*
Precipitate free zones near the GBs
Γbal Γth
LCrI LFeI
CONCLUSIONS

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