Dislocation loops in electron irradiated ferritic stainless steel

Abstract

Abstract The growth of dislocation loops in Fe-15wt% Cr ferritic stainless steel was examined in the temperature range 200° ∼ 600°C using a high voltage electron microscope. At about 200°C black dots occurred in close proximity with one another and formed clusters. In the temperature range 300° ∼ 400°C small dislocation loops were formed and gathered into clusters of peculiar crystal orientations. Most of those loops lay on the {100} plane and were of the interstitial nature. Between 450° and 550°C, star-like dislocation loops grew, some of which formed the “pair.” Most of the loops existed on the {111} plane. Up to 400°C the small loops which were formed initially remained unchanged even after prolonged irradiation, instead, the growth of their clusters was observed. The microstructure at the later stages became very complex, so was with the dislocation structure. No voids were detected. An explanation of these peculiar properties of this alloy was attempted on the basis of an adherence mechanism of disl...