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Nanoindentation investigation of ion-irradiated Fe–Cr alloys using spherical indenters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 October 2011

Andrew J. Bushby*
Affiliation:
Centre for Materials Research, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
Steve G. Roberts
Affiliation:
Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PH, United Kingdom
Christopher D. Hardie
Affiliation:
Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PH, United Kingdom
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The performance of materials exposed to high doses of neutron radiation is currently of great interest for the development of nuclear fusion energy production. An Fe12%Cr alloy was subjected to high-dose (6 dpa) radiation with 2MeV Fe+ ions to simulate the damage structures caused by neutron radiation, resulting in a damage layer ∼0.7 μm in depth from the surface. Spherical nanoindentation, using indenters with radii of 5, 10, and 20 μm, was used to determine reliable values for the initial yield pressure, the evolution of plastic deformation and the elastic modulus of this material, in the irradiated and unirradiated condition. The results showed that the initial yield pressure within the damage layer can be determined and was approximately a factor of two higher than that of the same material in the unirradiated condition. The irradiated material appeared to display strain softening following yield.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

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