NSUF 17-923: a' precipitation in neutron-irradiated Fe-9/12Cr alloys

High chromium ferritic/martensitic (F-M) steels are one of the strong contenders for structural components of the next generation of nuclear reactors and future fusion reactors. The long-term use of these steels in intense neutron irradiation environments requires reliable predictions of the evolution of their microstructures and mechanical properties. Developing accurate models that can predict phase transformations, accelerated diffusion, and other irradiation-affected phenomena, requires experimental insight and validation. Previous work has shown that nanoscale a’ precipitates readily form in neutron irradiated Fe-Cr. However a number of outstanding questions remain concerning the effects of temperature. Therefore the proposed work will focus on nucleation mechanisms, synergy with developing dislocation loops, and growth of a’ precipitates, Using transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography, we will characterize the Fe-9Cr and Fe-12Cr model alloys that were irradiated at Bor-60 under conditions spanning a larger temperature range than previously studied.

In combination with parallel experimental efforts focusing on a’ precipitation in ion implanted FeCr alloys, careful comparison of the different microstructural features formed under ion irradiation and neutron irradiation will provide a unique understanding of the evolution of irradiated microstructures as a first step toward tailoring ion irradiations to achieve optimum emulation of the reactor irradiated microstructure for specific neutron spectra.

Samples are at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are in the process of being transferred to the LAMDA facility where the focused ion beam (FIB) instrument will be used to prepare transmission electron microscopy (TEM) samples that will be examined on the LAMDA TEM instrument. The FIB tool will also be used to initiate the preparation of atom probe tomography samples that will be shipped to the University of Michigan for final preparation and complete APT analysis. Samples will start becoming available by mid February 2017. The proposed work will take 6 months.

Papildoma informacija

Laukas Reikšmė
Awarded Institution University of Michigan
Embargo End Date 2026-02-27
Facility Tech Lead Adrien Couet, Kory Linton
NSUF Call FY 2017 RTE 2nd Call
PI Emmanuelle Marquis
Project Member Professor Emmanuelle Marquis, Professor - University of Michigan (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6476-2835)
Project Member Elaina Anderson, Graduate Research Assistant - University of Michigan (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4950-2234)
Project Notes Awarded on 04/24/2017
Project Type RTE
Publication Interpreting the Presence of an Additional Oxide Layer in Analysis of Metal Oxides−Metal Interfaces in Atom Probe Tomography Mukesh Bachhav, Gorakh Pawar, Yan Dong, Emmanuelle Marquis Journal of Physical Chemistry 123 2018-12-20 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.jpcc.8b10895
Publication From Imaging to Quantitative Atom Probe Tomography of Irradiated Microstructures, EA Marquis, E Anderson, GR Odette, LY Yu Emmanuelle Marquis Annual TMS Meeting, , March 2018 2018-03-11 - 2018-03-15
Publication Dose rate effects on the precipitation behavior of Fe-Cr and Ni alloys, E Reese, LJ Yu, T Yamamoto, GR Odette, EA Marquis Emmanuelle Marquis 6th FMTCP workshop 2019-06-24 - 2019-06-26
Publication Influence of Irradiation Conditions on Precipitation Behavior in Fe-Cr and Ni Alloys Emmanuelle Marquis, Nathan Almirall, Takuya Yamamoto, G. Robert Odette, Grace Burke Annual TMS meeting 2019-03-10 - 2019-03-14
RTE Number 923