Diffuse X-ray scattering studies of radiation defects in Ni and dilute Ni alloys

Pure Ni, dilute Ni-Cu and Ni-Fe alloys were irradiated with 2 MeV electrons at about 90 K. The resulting defect structures at room temperature were st udied by X-ray scattering methods using synchrotron radiation. In Ni and di lute Ni alloys, major defects were vacancy loops (averaged size 5-7 Angstro m). A larger number of vacancy loops was found to exist in the alloys than in pure Ni, and this is interpreted in terms of solute atoms causing an inc rease in the probability of loop nucleation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.