Influence of grain size on radiation effects in a low carbon steel

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 (similar to 1.15 x 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. Published by Elsevier B.V.