Abstract
The nucleation and growth of voids have been observed successively in different thickness specimens of Type 316 stainless steel electron-irradiated at 550°C in a high voltage electron microscope. In a bulk representative 1.5 μm thick specimen, the void number density increases rapidly and saturates during the initial stage of irradiation and then decreases with following dose by void coalescence. The swelling increases proportionally with (dpa)1-5 up to about 30 dpa. In a thin specimen, of 0.4 μm thickness, on the other hand, the void number density increases continuously with dose up to about 25 dpa. The swelling of the thin specimen showed a tendency to saturation due to the disappearance of voids at the specimen surfaces. The difference in swelling behavior between the 1.5 and 0.4;μm thick specimens can be ascribed to the different effects of the specimen surfaces, which serve as a dominant sink for both radiation-produced point defects and dislocations.
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