TY - JOUR
T1 - Emulation of neutron damage with proton irradiation and its effects on microstructure and microchemistry of Zircaloy-4
AU - Wang, Peng
AU - Bowman, Josh
AU - Bachhav, Mukesh
AU - Kammenzind, Bruce
AU - Smith, Richard
AU - Carter, Jesse
AU - Motta, Arthur
AU - Lacroix, Evrard
AU - Was, Gary
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2021/12/15
Y1 - 2021/12/15
N2 - This work assesses the potential of proton irradiation to simulate the neutron damage to the matrix and laves phase Zr(Fe,Cr)2 precipitates in Zircaloy-4. Isothermal proton irradiation has been performed on Zircaloy-4 samples at irradiation temperatures ranging from 250 to 350 °C. Two-step proton irradiation was also performed to enhance the amorphization of and iron loss from the laves phase Zr(Fe,Cr)2 precipitates. The irradiated microstructures, including dislocation loops and rafts near SPPs, were observed in proton irradiated Zircaloy-4, which are consistent with neutron irradiated material at a similar damage level. The amount of irradiation-induced hardening after proton irradiation was similar to post neutron irradiated data. The significant amorphization of the SPPs and concurrent Fe redistribution observed on neutron irradiated materials can be effectively emulated using a two-step proton irradiation on Zircaloy-4. Hence, the neutron irradiation effect on Zircaloy-4 can be mostly captured using the two-step proton irradiation described in this study.
AB - This work assesses the potential of proton irradiation to simulate the neutron damage to the matrix and laves phase Zr(Fe,Cr)2 precipitates in Zircaloy-4. Isothermal proton irradiation has been performed on Zircaloy-4 samples at irradiation temperatures ranging from 250 to 350 °C. Two-step proton irradiation was also performed to enhance the amorphization of and iron loss from the laves phase Zr(Fe,Cr)2 precipitates. The irradiated microstructures, including dislocation loops and rafts near SPPs, were observed in proton irradiated Zircaloy-4, which are consistent with neutron irradiated material at a similar damage level. The amount of irradiation-induced hardening after proton irradiation was similar to post neutron irradiated data. The significant amorphization of the SPPs and concurrent Fe redistribution observed on neutron irradiated materials can be effectively emulated using a two-step proton irradiation on Zircaloy-4. Hence, the neutron irradiation effect on Zircaloy-4 can be mostly captured using the two-step proton irradiation described in this study.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2021.153281
DO - 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2021.153281
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85114692921
SN - 0022-3115
VL - 557
JO - Journal of Nuclear Materials
JF - Journal of Nuclear Materials
M1 - 153281
ER -