Evolution of the nanostructure of VVER-1000 RPV materials under neutron irradiation and post irradiation annealing

A high nickel VVER-1000 (15Kh2NMFAA) base metal (1.34 wt% Ni, 0.47% Mn, 0.29% Si and 0.05% Cu), and a high nickel (12Kh2N2MAA) weld metal (1.77 wt% Ni, 0.74% Mn, 0.26% Si and 0.07% Cu) have been characterized by atom probe tomography to determine the changes in the microstructure during neutron irradiation to high fluences. The base metal was studied in the unirradiated condition and after neutron irradiation to fluences between 2.4 and 14.9 x 10(23) m(-2) (E > 0.5 MeV), and the weld metal was studied in the unirradiated condition and after neutron irradiation to fluences between 2.4 and 11.5 x 10(23) m(-2) (E > 0.5 MeV). High number densities of similar to 2-nm-diameter Ni-, Si- and Mn-enriched nanoclusters were found in the neutron irradiated base and weld metals. No significant copper enrichment was associated with these nanoclusters and no copper-enriched precipitates were observed. The number densities of these nanoclusters correlate with the shifts in the Delta T-41 (J) ductile-to-brittle transition temperature. These nanoclusters were present after a post irradiation anneal of 2 h at 450 degrees C, but had dissolved into the matrix after 24 h at 450 degrees C. Phosphorus, nickel, silicon and to a lesser extent manganese were found to be segregated to the dislocations. Published by Elsevier B.V.