STUDY ON COPPER PRECIPITATION DURING ELEC TRON-IRRADIATION IN DILUTE FERRITIC ALLOYS

The copper precipitation in dilute ferritic alloys (FeCu et FeCuMn) ha s been studied under electron irradiation in the 170-370-degrees-C tem perature range. The matrix depletion at low fluence has been followed by in situ electrical resistivity measurements, the mean radius and th e number density of precipitates have been measured at higher fluence by Small Angle Neutron Scattering. The copper precipitation is not aff ected by manganese at 300-degrees-C but is strongly inhibited at 215-d egrees-C. It is shown that a simple radiation enhanced precipitation m odel can reproduce quit well the first stage of precipitation but fail s in the pure coarsening regime.