Xe Ion Irradiation-Induced Microstructural Evolution and Hardening Effect of Nickel-Base Superalloy

Yu Hou,Renduo Liu,Hefei Huang,Dehui Li,Weiguo Yang,Yanling Lu,Arkady Serikov

doi:10.1155/2021/5535478

Abstract

The nickel-base superalloy Hastelloy N was irradiated using 1 MeV Xe20+ and 7 MeV Xe26+ ions with displacement damage ranging from 0.5 dPa to 10 dPa at room temperature (RT). The irradiated Ni-based superalloy was characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), XRD, and nanoindenter to determine the changes in microstructural evolution and nanoindentation hardness. The TEM results showed that ion irradiation induced a large number of defects such as black spots and corrugated structures and the second phase was rapidly amorphized after being irradiated to a fluence of 0.5 dPa. The XRD results showed that the Hastelloy N alloy sample did not undergo lattice distortion after ion irradiation. An obvious irradiation hardening phenomenon was observed in this study, and the hardness increased with Xe ion fluence. The pinning effect in which the defects can become obstacles to the free movement of dislocation may be responsible for the irradiation-induced hardening.

Highlights

Research ArticleYu Hou ,1,2 DeHui Li ,1 YanLing Lu ,1 HeFei Huang, WeiGuo Yang ,2 and RenDuo Liu. Received 31 January 2021; Revised 8 October 2021; Accepted 9 October 2021; Published 19 November 2021
Nuclear energy will play a more important role in meeting future energy needs for the fast-growing energy demands and concerns about climate changes [1]. e molten salt reactor (MSR), one of the six most promising generation IV nuclear reactor systems, has attracted increasing interest for its incomparable advantages: high inherent safety, reliability, higher power generation efficiency, etc. [2, 3]
The development and deployment of MSR systems are hindered by the structural materials. e structural alloys which must be subjected to extremely harsh environments involving high temperature, high neutron doses, and strong molten salt corrosion [4,5,6,7]. anks to its excellent corrosion resistance and adequate high-temperature strength, the nickel-based Hastelloy N alloy, which was developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in the 1960s [8], is still considered as the most promising candidate for the structural materials of MSR [9]

Summary

Research Article

Yu Hou ,1,2 DeHui Li ,1 YanLing Lu ,1 HeFei Huang, WeiGuo Yang ,2 and RenDuo Liu. Received 31 January 2021; Revised 8 October 2021; Accepted 9 October 2021; Published 19 November 2021. E nickel-base superalloy Hastelloy N was irradiated using 1 MeV Xe20+ and 7 MeV Xe26+ ions with displacement damage ranging from 0.5 dPa to 10 dPa at room temperature (RT). E irradiated Ni-based superalloy was characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), XRD, and nanoindenter to determine the changes in microstructural evolution and nanoindentation hardness. E TEM results showed that ion irradiation induced a large number of defects such as black spots and corrugated structures and the second phase was rapidly amorphized after being irradiated to a fluence of 0.5 dPa. e XRD results showed that the Hastelloy N alloy sample did not undergo lattice distortion after ion irradiation. An obvious irradiation hardening phenomenon was observed in this study, and the hardness increased with Xe ion fluence. An obvious irradiation hardening phenomenon was observed in this study, and the hardness increased with Xe ion fluence. e pinning effect in which the defects can become obstacles to the free movement of dislocation may be responsible for the irradiation-induced hardening

Introduction

Results and Discussion

Hastelloy N alloy