辐照与氦协同作用对Eurofer97钢微观结构和力学性能影响

Synergetic Effect of Irradiation and Helium on Microstructure and Mechanical Property of Eurofer97 Steel

  • 摘要: 为探究辐照损伤与氦协同作用对Eurofer97钢辐照诱导微观结构演化及力学性能影响,本文通过拉伸实验和透射电子显微镜(TEM)微观结构表征,对铁素体/马氏体钢Eurofer97在瑞士散裂中子源(SINQ)辐照条件下的氦泡形核、粗化及其诱导硬化行为进行了研究。实验样品依托SINQ靶件辐照计划第三期(STIP-Ⅲ),在150~530 ℃温度范围内接受辐照,最大损伤剂量达20 dpa,氦浓度达1 740 appm。结果表明,Eurofer97钢中氦泡的密度主要取决于辐照温度,而氦泡的生长则受氦浓度控制。基于弥散障碍硬化模型的分析表明,当氦泡尺寸小于约0.8 nm时,氦泡强度系数 \alpha 低于0.1,氦致硬化效应不明显;氦泡尺寸在1~2 nm时, \alpha 约为0.14~0.18,氦致硬化效应显著。此外,拉伸实验及断口形貌分析揭示,辐照和氦效应弱化了晶界结合强度,并导致材料断裂模式发生改变。本文揭示了氦泡演化与Eurofer97钢宏观脆化间的物理关联,为辐照损伤与氦协同作用下Eurofer97钢性能预测提供了关键实验依据。

     

    Abstract: Eurofer97 reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steel stands as a primary structural candidate for future fusion reactors. However, ensuring its long-term structural integrity under the synergistic effects of high-energy neutron bombardment, substantial displacement damage (dpa), and high rates of helium (He) generation remains a formidable challenge. This study presented a systematic investigation into the microstructural evolution and mechanical property degradation of Eurofer97 steel irradiated within the Swiss Spallation Neutron Source (SINQ) STIP-Ⅲ program. Specimens were subjected to a broad irradiation temperature window ranging from 150 ℃ to 530 ℃, achieving accumulated doses up to 20 dpa and helium concentrations reaching 1 740 appm. Detailed transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterization revealed distinct, temperature-dependent regimes of defect evolution. In the low-temperature regime (<300 ℃), the microstructure is dominated by a high density of black dot clusters and small dislocation loops, which act as primary obstacles to slip. Conversely, at elevated temperatures (>400 ℃), these conventional displacement defects are largely annealed out. Instead, helium bubbles emerge as the predominant microstructural feature, driven by the high transmutation rates. Quantitative analysis indicates that the mean bubble size increased from 1.17 nm to 2.49 nm as irradiation temperatures rose from 235 ℃ to 511 ℃, while bubble density exhibits a non-monotonic trend of initial increase followed by coarsening-induced reduction. Notably, at 511 ℃, significant bubble accumulation at grain boundaries and adjacent denuded zones (approximately 20-30 nm) is observed, highlighting substantial helium migration. Tensile testing demonstrates significant irradiation hardening across all conditions, yet the underlying physical mechanisms shift with temperature. Low-temperature hardening is governed by defect clusters, leading to dislocation channeling, strain localization, and ductility exhaustion. In contrast, high-temperature hardening is controlled by the dispersed barrier effect of high-density helium bubbles. The recovery of uniform strain hardening behavior in high-temperature specimens suggests that bubbles larger than 0.8 nm function as strong, thermally stable obstacles to dislocation motion. Based on the dispersed barrier hardening (DBH) model, the strength parameter \alpha for helium bubbles in the 1-2 nm size range was calculated to be approximately 0.14-0.18. Furthermore, fractographic analysis reveals a critical shift from ductile dimple rupture to brittle intergranular fracture in specimens containing high helium concentrations (>1 000 appm) irradiated above 400 ℃. This transition confirms that helium segregation severely compromises grain boundary cohesion, inducing high-temperature helium embrittlement. These findings establish a direct physical correlation between microstructural helium evolution and macroscopic failure modes, providing essential experimental data for validating lifetime prediction models for fusion reactor blanket components.

     

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