PLASTICITY IN ION-IRRADIATED AUSTENITIC STAINLESS-STEELS

In an attempt to take advantage of charged particle irradiation for st udying the effects of irradiation on the mechanical properties of meta ls, we developed an experimental procedure based on the combination of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and submicron indentation of i on-implanted layers. We applied this technique to industrial 316L stee l, irradiated with krypton ions up to 10 dpa at 873 K, A domain where the penetration range of the ions and the indentation depth are compat ible has been identified. The indentation tests then yielded a good es timate of hardness and bulk modulus, while the TEM observations provid e microstructural information in the plastic regime. It is shown that the combination of the two techniques is necessary for rationalizing t he observed results.