1. The effects of microstructures and radiation damage on the deformation behavior of a HT-9 alloy using microtensile testing
- Author
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Stuart A. Maloy, H.T. Vo, Osman Anderoglu, and Peter Hosemann
- Subjects
010302 applied physics ,Materials science ,Mechanical Engineering ,Alloy ,Direct observation ,02 engineering and technology ,engineering.material ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Condensed Matter Physics ,Microstructure ,01 natural sciences ,Mechanics of Materials ,Martensite ,0103 physical sciences ,engineering ,Radiation damage ,General Materials Science ,High angle ,Irradiation ,Composite material ,Deformation (engineering) ,0210 nano-technology - Abstract
Understanding the influence of radiation damage on the mechanical properties of HT-9 and other tempered martensitic alloys is part of the mission in developing radiation-tolerant materials for the next generation of nuclear reactors. Although there has been extensive data on the macroscopic mechanical properties of the irradiated HT-9 alloys and microstructural changes, it is not well-understood how radiation damage and the resulting microstructural changes influence the local mechanical properties. In this study, we utilized in situ SEM microtensile testing to investigate the deformation behavior of specific martensitic boundaries in 1 dpa proton-irradiated HT-9 and answered the question of what is the weakest link. We provided the direct observation of the failure modes of microtensiles containing high angle and low angle martensitic boundaries. In the unirradiated condition, the deformation is ductile and no martensitic boundary failure is observed. In the irradiated condition, the high angle martensitic boundaries are more susceptible to radiation-induced boundary failure as compared to the low angle martensitic boundaries.
- Published
- 2021
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