LOW-TEMPERATURE SWELLING OF METALS AND CERAMICS

A theory of low temperature swelling of crystalline materials is propo sed, which is based on kinetics of defect accumulation and dislocation microstructure evolution at early stages of irradiation. This effect is of practical importance for refractory materials (e.g., ceramics, o r tungsten) which might be used in fission and fusion facilities. The model provides a good qualitative picture of experimental features of the effect (swelling saturation, temperature dependence, etc.) and giv es reasonable quantitative predictions.