Korukonda Murty

Neutron irradiation effects on ultra-fine grain (UFG) low carbon steel prepared by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) have been examined. Counterpart samples with conventional grain (CG) sizes have been irradiated alongside with the UFG ones for comparison. Samples were irradiated in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to 1.37 dpa. Atom probe tomography revealed manganese and silicon-enriched clusters in both UFG and CG steel after neutron irradiation. Mechanical properties were characterized using microhardness and tensile tests, and irradiation of UFG carbon steel revealed minute radiation effects in contrast to the distinct radiation hardening and reduction of ductility in its CG counterpart. After irradiation, micro hardness indicated increases of around 9% for UFG versus 62% for CG steel. Similarly, tensile strength revealed increases of 8% and 94% respectively for UFG and CG steels while corresponding decreases in ductility were 56% versus 82%. X-ray quantitative analysis showed that dislocation density in CG increased after irradiation while no significant change was observed in UFG steel, revealing better radiation tolerance. Quantitative correlations between experimental results and modeling were demonstrated based on irradiation induced precipitate strengthening and dislocation forest hardening mechanisms.

Ultra-fine grain (UFG) metals with a relatively large volume of interfaces are expected to be more radiation resistant than conventional metals; grain boundaries act as unsaturable sinks for neutron irradiation induced defects. Effects of neutron irradiation on conventional and ultra-fine grain structured carbon steel are studied using the PULSTAR reactor at NC State University to relatively low fluence (~1.15 × 10-3 dpa). The low dose irradiation of ultrafine grained carbon steel revealed minute radiation effects in contrast to the observed radiation hardening and reduction of ductility in its conventional grained counterpart.

Neutron irradiation effects on ultra-fine grain (UFG) low carbon steel prepared by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) have been examined. Counterpart samples with conventional grain (CG) sizes have been irradiated alongside with the UFG ones for comparison. Samples were irradiated in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to 1.37 dpa. Atom probe tomography revealed manganese and silicon-enriched clusters in both UFG and CG steel after neutron irradiation. Mechanical properties were characterized using microhardness and tensile tests, and irradiation of UFG carbon steel revealed minute radiation effects in contrast to the distinct radiation hardening and reduction of ductility in its CG counterpart. After irradiation, micro hardness indicated increases of around 9% for UFG versus 62% for CG steel. Similarly, tensile strength revealed increases of 8% and 94% respectively for UFG and CG steels while corresponding decreases in ductility were 56% versus 82%. X-ray quantitative analysis showed that dislocation density in CG increased after irradiation while no significant change was observed in UFG steel, revealing better radiation tolerance. Quantitative correlations between experimental results and modeling were demonstrated based on irradiation induced precipitate strengthening and dislocation forest hardening mechanisms.