Recent Studies on the Microstructural Response of Nanotwinned Metals to In Situ Heavy Ion Irradiation

Abstract

Nanotwinned metals are potential radiation-tolerant materials because they contain high-density coherent and incoherent twin boundaries that may serve as sinks to radiation-induced defects. The behavior of nanotwinned metals subject to ex situ and in situ irradiation remains however largely unexploited. This article offers an overview of the recent studies on the microstructural response of nanotwinned metals to in situ heavy ion irradiation, focusing on the interactions of defect clusters with twin boundaries and the radiation-induced twin boundary migration. Several radiation-tolerant nanotwinned metals are also highlighted.