Abstract
Radiation hardening and embrittlement of A533B steels is heavily dependent on the Cu content. In this study, to investigate the effect of copper on the microstructural evolution of these materials, A533B steels with different Cu levels were irradiated with 2.4 MeV Fe ions and 1.0 MeV electrons. Ion irradiation was performed from room temperature (RT) to 350 °C with doses up to 1 dpa. At RT and 290 °C, low dose (<0.1 dpa) hardening trend corresponded with ΔH ∝ (dpa)n, with n initially approximately 0.5 and consistent with a barrier hardening mechanism, but saturating at ≈0.1 dpa. At higher dose levels, the radiation-induced hardening exhibited a strong Cu content dependence at 290 °C, but not at 350 °C. Electron irradiation using high-voltage electron microscopy revealed the growth of interstitial-type dislocation loops and enrichment of Ni, Mn, and Si in the vicinities of pre-existing dislocations at doses for which the radiation-induced hardness due to ion irradiation was prominent.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
