In-situ S/TEM investigations of deformation and damage mechanisms in neutron-irradiated EUROFER97

In this work, we employed in-situ S/TEM techniques to investigate deformation and damage mechanisms in neutron-irradiated reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) EUROFER97 steel subjected to a dose of 15 dpa at 330 °C. The irradiated microstructure revealed uniformly distributed dislocation l...

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Main Authors: Qian Yuan, Ankur Chauhan, Lakshay Chauhan, Dimitri Litvinov, Ermile Gaganidze, Hans-Christian Schneider, Jarir Aktaa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Philosophical Magazine Letters
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09500839.2025.2512307
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author Qian Yuan
Ankur Chauhan
Lakshay Chauhan
Dimitri Litvinov
Ermile Gaganidze
Hans-Christian Schneider
Jarir Aktaa
author_facet Qian Yuan
Ankur Chauhan
Lakshay Chauhan
Dimitri Litvinov
Ermile Gaganidze
Hans-Christian Schneider
Jarir Aktaa
author_sort Qian Yuan
collection DOAJ
description In this work, we employed in-situ S/TEM techniques to investigate deformation and damage mechanisms in neutron-irradiated reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) EUROFER97 steel subjected to a dose of 15 dpa at 330 °C. The irradiated microstructure revealed uniformly distributed dislocation loops and sporadic nanometer-sized cavities. During in-situ straining of a focused-ion beam (FIB)-prepared lamella, mobile line dislocations were observed to interact with dislocation loops, leading to loop absorption and the formation of dislocation networks. Further straining resulted in the formation of a dislocation-loop-free zone. Within this region, deformation-induced nanometer-sized cavities emerged, likely from pre-existing irradiation-induced clusters, cavities, or remnants of absorbed loops. Coalescence of these cavities led to the formation of micro-cracks and ultimately to the fracture of the lamella. This suggests premature failure of the irradiated sample compared to its unirradiated counterpart, highlighting irradiation-induced embrittlement.
format Article
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issn 0950-0839
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publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
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series Philosophical Magazine Letters
spelling doaj-art-604e966057a14b2bac6d02aad413dc522025-08-20T03:19:27ZengTaylor & Francis GroupPhilosophical Magazine Letters0950-08391362-30362025-12-01105110.1080/09500839.2025.2512307In-situ S/TEM investigations of deformation and damage mechanisms in neutron-irradiated EUROFER97Qian Yuan0Ankur Chauhan1Lakshay Chauhan2Dimitri Litvinov3Ermile Gaganidze4Hans-Christian Schneider5Jarir Aktaa6Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Applied Materials, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, GermanyKarlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Applied Materials, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, GermanyKarlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Applied Materials, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, GermanyKarlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Applied Materials, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, GermanyKarlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Applied Materials, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, GermanyKarlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Applied Materials, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, GermanyKarlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Applied Materials, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, GermanyIn this work, we employed in-situ S/TEM techniques to investigate deformation and damage mechanisms in neutron-irradiated reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) EUROFER97 steel subjected to a dose of 15 dpa at 330 °C. The irradiated microstructure revealed uniformly distributed dislocation loops and sporadic nanometer-sized cavities. During in-situ straining of a focused-ion beam (FIB)-prepared lamella, mobile line dislocations were observed to interact with dislocation loops, leading to loop absorption and the formation of dislocation networks. Further straining resulted in the formation of a dislocation-loop-free zone. Within this region, deformation-induced nanometer-sized cavities emerged, likely from pre-existing irradiation-induced clusters, cavities, or remnants of absorbed loops. Coalescence of these cavities led to the formation of micro-cracks and ultimately to the fracture of the lamella. This suggests premature failure of the irradiated sample compared to its unirradiated counterpart, highlighting irradiation-induced embrittlement.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09500839.2025.2512307In-situ S/TEM strainingdeformation and damage mechanismsneutron irradiationirradiation-induced defectsRAFM steel
spellingShingle Qian Yuan
Ankur Chauhan
Lakshay Chauhan
Dimitri Litvinov
Ermile Gaganidze
Hans-Christian Schneider
Jarir Aktaa
In-situ S/TEM investigations of deformation and damage mechanisms in neutron-irradiated EUROFER97
Philosophical Magazine Letters
In-situ S/TEM straining
deformation and damage mechanisms
neutron irradiation
irradiation-induced defects
RAFM steel
title In-situ S/TEM investigations of deformation and damage mechanisms in neutron-irradiated EUROFER97
title_full In-situ S/TEM investigations of deformation and damage mechanisms in neutron-irradiated EUROFER97
title_fullStr In-situ S/TEM investigations of deformation and damage mechanisms in neutron-irradiated EUROFER97
title_full_unstemmed In-situ S/TEM investigations of deformation and damage mechanisms in neutron-irradiated EUROFER97
title_short In-situ S/TEM investigations of deformation and damage mechanisms in neutron-irradiated EUROFER97
title_sort in situ s tem investigations of deformation and damage mechanisms in neutron irradiated eurofer97
topic In-situ S/TEM straining
deformation and damage mechanisms
neutron irradiation
irradiation-induced defects
RAFM steel
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09500839.2025.2512307
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