Residual Elements and Irradiation Embrittlement.
Abstract
Past work on the role of residual elements (particularly copper and phosphorus) in the enhanced irradiation embrittlement observed in pressure-vessel steels irradiated at 550F (288C) is reviewed. Only three mechanisms for explaining the embrittlement are plausible--temper embrittlement, irradiation-enhanced diffusion to an interface, and enhanced nucleation of defect aggregates which produce hardening and embrittlement. Experiments employing scanning microscopy and Auger spectroscopy show that the embrittlement is not produced by segregation of copper or phosphorus at an interface. Microhardness recovery experiments indicate that the embrittlement in copper-containing alloys is accompanied by greater irradiation hardening. Transmission electron micrographs of special iron alloys doped with 0.3 at-% copper show a microstructure indicative of a higher concentration of defect aggregates than pure iron irradiated under the same conditions. These aggregates are believed to be vacancy in nature because vacancies are mobile during irradiation at 550F (288C) and because no correlation between embrittlement and copper or phosphorus content are noted after irradiation at temperatures where vacancies are not mobile. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0730439
Entities
People
- F. A. Smidt Jr.
- Lendell E. Steele
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory