Postirradiation Annealing and Reirradiation Study of High‐Dose Proton‐Irradiated Fe–Cu Model Alloys by Positron Annihilation and Nanoindentation. Issue 5 (8th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Wenzeng; Shi, Jianjian; Yang, Zhihui; Liu, Xiangbing; Cao, Xingzhong; Wang, Baoyi; Wu, Yichu
• Is Part Of: Physica status solidi. Volume 258:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-02-08
• Subjects: defects -- Fe–Cu alloys -- irradiation hardening -- positron annihilation -- proton irradiation; Solid state physics -- Periodicals; Solids -- Periodicals; Atomic structure -- Periodicals; 530.41
• DOI: 10.1002/pssb.202000458
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0370-1972

Abstract

Abstract : The microstructural evolution of postirradiation annealing (PIA) and reirradiation in high‐dose proton‐irradiated Fe–Cu model alloys (Cu: 0.05 and 0.1 wt%) at high temperature (about ≈290 °C) is investigated using positron annihilation and nanoindentation. The positron results show that vacancy defects and Cu precipitates are produced in high‐dose proton‐irradiated Fe–Cu alloys. Under PIA at 500 °C, vacancy defects are recovered substantially, whereas Cu precipitates still remain in Fe–Cu alloys. After reirradiation, the S parameter in the damaged region evidently increases when compared with the postirradiation annealed samples. It is suggested that Cu precipitates remain in the postirradiation annealed samples that strongly affect the formation and growth of vacancy defects. More defects are produced in reirradiated samples, resulting in higher S parameters. The nanoindentation results show obvious hardening in the reirradiated samples. Both vacancy defects and Cu precipitates lead to the hardening of high‐dose proton‐irradiated Fe–Cu model alloys. Abstract : Microstructural evolution and hardening properties of Fe–Cu alloys under initial irradiation, postirradiation annealing, and reirradiation are investigated by positron annihilation spectroscopy and nanoindentation. Vacancy defects and Cu precipitates are the main contributors to Fe–Cu alloy hardening. Hardness measurements show that irradiation effects can be mitigated by annealing.