Radiation induced hardening of ion irradiated RPV steels

It is well known that radiation hardening and embrittlement of A533B steels is very sensitive to minor solute content. To investigate the effect on microstructural evolution of these materials, A533B steels with different Cu levels were irradiated by 2.4 MeV Fe ions. The ion irradiation was performed at 290 degrees C and also at room temperature up to a dose of 2 dpa. After the irradiation, the microstructure of the specimens was observed by transmission electron microcopy. Small dislocation loops formed in the matrix and also in the vicinity of dislocation were identified as interstitial dislocation loops, using additional electron irradiation at room temperature in the HVEM. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.