Small angle scattering study concerning the effect of residual elements onthe radiation behaviour of iron alloys

For better understanding of the influence of the deleterious elements on th e neutron embrittlement of reactor pressure vessel steels, the microstructu ral evolution due to neutron irradiation was investigated by SANS experimen ts at ternary iron alloys with different contents of copper and phosphorus. In every case irradiation produces nanoscaled inhomogeneities. The volume fraction of the inhomogeneities increases with the copper content but not w ith the phosphorus content. Surprisingly, the high-pure alloy shows a relat ively high irradiation effect. The irradiation defects vary in type and kin etic of evolution for the different alloys. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. AII rights reserved.