Abstract
Abstract Pure magnesium single crystals have been irradiated at liquid nitrogen temperature in the RA-1 reactor of the Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica (CNEA) up to fast-neutron doses of 1·2 × 1022 neutrons m−2, and their plastic behaviour studied at 77 K. Radiation hardening of magnesium and zinc has been compared and its similarity in both metals appears to be a consequence of the presence of similar irradiation-produced barriers. The ductility of single crystals of magnesium was not found to be dose dependent. For neutron doses greater than 5 × 1020 neutrons m−2, a deformation instability was observed, and above 1021 neutrons m−2 this instability was found to consist of a sharp drop in the yield point followed by successive stress drops. Photomicrographs obtained after each drop show that they are associated with the formation of one or more new slip line packets. This behaviour could be related to a dislocation channelling phenomenon. Yield-stress annealing experiments were performed, and two impo...
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