Effect of neutron irradiation on the microstructure of tungsten

M. Klimenkov; U. Jäntsch; M. Rieth; H.C. Schneider; D.E.J. Armstrong; J. Gibson; S.G. Roberts

doi:10.1016/j.nme.2016.09.010

Nuclear Materials and Energy (Dec 2016)

Effect of neutron irradiation on the microstructure of tungsten

M. Klimenkov,
U. Jäntsch,
M. Rieth,
H.C. Schneider,
D.E.J. Armstrong,
J. Gibson,
S.G. Roberts

Affiliations

M. Klimenkov: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Applied Materials, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
U. Jäntsch: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Applied Materials, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
M. Rieth: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Applied Materials, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
H.C. Schneider: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Applied Materials, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
D.E.J. Armstrong: University of Oxford, Department of Materials, Oxford, UK
J. Gibson: University of Oxford, Department of Materials, Oxford, UK
S.G. Roberts: University of Oxford, Department of Materials, Oxford, UK

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nme.2016.09.010
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9, no. C
pp. 480 – 483

Abstract

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Two grades of pure tungsten, single and polycrystalline, were irradiated for 282 days in the HFR reactor, Petten, at 900 °C to an average damage level of 1.6dpa. Each grade of tungsten was investigated using the transmission electron microscope (TEM) to assess the effect of neutron irradiation on tungsten microstructure. Investigations revealed the formation of faceted cavities, whose diameter varies from 4 to 14nm in both materials. The cavities are homogeneously distributed only inside single crystalline tungsten. The local distribution of cavities in polycrystalline tungsten is strongly influenced by grain boundaries. The number densities of cavities were measured to be 4×1021 m−3 for polycrystalline and 2.5×1021 m−3 for single crystalline tungsten. This corresponds to volumetric densities of 0.45% and 0.33% respectively. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) revealed that faces of cavities are oriented in (110) plane. Analytical investigations showed precipitation of rhenium and osmium produced by a transmutation reaction around cavities and at grain boundaries.

Published in Nuclear Materials and Energy

ISSN: 2352-1791 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Nuclear engineering. Atomic power
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/nuclear-materials-and-energy/

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