Characterization of lattice damage formation in tantalum irradiated at variable temperatures

Iuliia Ipatova, Paul Wady, Samir De Moraes Shubeita, Chiara Barcellini, Andrea Impagnatiello, Enrique Jimenez-Melero

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Summary The formation of radiation-induced dislocation loops and voids in tantalum at 180(2), 345(3) and 590(5)C was assessed by 3MeV proton irradiation experiments and subsequent damage characterization using transmission electron microscopy. Voids formed at 345(3)C and were arranged into a body centred cubic lattice at a damage level of 0.55dpa. The low vacancy mobility at 180(2)C impedes enough vacancy clustering and therefore the formation of voids visible by TEM. At 590(5)°C the Burgers vector of the interstitial-type dislocation loops is a<100>, instead of the a/2 <111> Burgers vector characteristic of the loops at 180(2) and 345(3)C. The lower mobility of a<100> loops hinders the formation of voids at 590(5)C up to a damage level of 0.55dpa. Lay description High-temperature metallic materials for demanding technological applications in radiation environments, such as future nuclear reactor systems and enhanced-output targets for spallation sources, will be subject to the continuous bombardment of energetic particles at elevated temperatures. Tantalum constitutes an advanced candidate material for those applications due to its high radiation tolerance, ductility and water corrosion resistance. We have characterized the damage caused by proton bombardment to tantalum at variable temperatures using transmission electron microscopy. The results revealed significant differences in structural damage as a function of temperature and damage level, and therefore help to understand the formation, or otherwise, of voids induced by radiation. These results constitute unique evidence of the occurrence of structural damage and voids in tantalum, which will pave the way to reliable predictions of radiation-induced swelling of tantalum-based components in future applications.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)110–117
JournalJournal of Microscopy
Volume270
Issue number1
Early online date1 Nov 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

Keywords

  • Nuclear materials
  • Tantalum
  • Electron microscopy
  • Radiation damage
  • dislocation analysis
  • Void formation

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Dalton Nuclear Institute

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Characterization of lattice damage formation in tantalum irradiated at variable temperatures'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this