Zr-2.5Nb合金在室温及350 ℃氦离子辐照下不同形貌晶粒中的微观结构研究

Research on Microstructural Evolution in Grain with Different Morphologies of Zr-2.5Nb Alloy under Helium Ion Irradiation at Room Temperature and 350 ℃

  • 摘要: 锆合金由于其较好的抗辐照性能及力学性能,常被用作反应堆的压力管、包壳等材料,为了研究Zr-2.5Nb在室温及350 ℃氦离子辐照时不同形貌晶粒中的微观结构差异,利用透射电子显微镜,在室温、350 ℃温度下对Zr-2.5Nb样品进行了50 keV,3×1016、5×1016和1×1017 cm−2的氦离子辐照实验,研究在相同辐照条件下的等轴晶粒与长条晶粒中氦泡与位错环的演化差异。结果表明:在350 ℃辐照时,长条晶粒中的氦泡尺寸要始终大于等轴晶粒中的,但是在室温辐照时,两种不同形貌晶粒中的氦泡尺寸无明显差异;随着辐照温度、辐照剂量的增加,氦泡尺寸和位错环尺寸也会随之增加,在350 ℃,当注量增加到1×1017 cm−2,等轴晶粒中的位错环尺寸会突然超过长条晶粒中的,且位错环密度随辐照剂量增加出现先增加后减小的趋势。本文研究可为更深入揭示锆合金辐照损伤机制、优化材料微观结构设计提供重要支撑。

     

    Abstract: Zirconium (Zr) alloys, owing to their favorable radiation resistance and mechanical properties, are commonly used in materials such as pressure tubes and cladding for nuclear reactors. To investigate the microstructural differences between grains with different morphologies in Zr-2.5Nb alloy subjected to helium ion irradiation at room temperature and 350 ℃, microstructural analysis via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was conducted on TEM thin film samples of Zr-2.5Nb irradiated at room temperature and 350 ℃ with 50 keV and a fluence of 3×1016, 5×1016, and 1×1017 cm−2. The evolutionary differences of helium bubbles and dislocation loops between equiaxed (E-type) grains and lath-shaped (L-type) grains under identical irradiation environments were comprehensively explored. Experimental findings reveal that helium bubbles in L-type grains exhibit consistently larger sizes than those in E-type grains under irradiation at 350 ℃. At the irradiation damage levels of approximately 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0 dpa, the size differences of helium bubbles between the two grain types reach 0.12, 0.15 and 0.29 nm in sequence. Nevertheless, no remarkable distinction exists in helium bubble sizes among grains with different morphologies when irradiation is conducted at room temperature. When the irradiation dose rises from 0.3 dpa to 1.0 dpa at 350 ℃, the growth amplitude of helium bubble size in L-type grains is 2.32 nm, while that in E-type grains is 2.15 nm. Meanwhile, the size increment of dislocation loops in L-type grains is 1.57 nm, and the corresponding value in E-type grains is 3.21 nm. At 1.0 dpa, as the temperature increases from room temperature to 350 ℃, the helium bubble size increases by 3.51 nm in L-type grains and 3.28 nm in E-type grains. In terms of dislocation loops, their sizes rise by 1.36 nm in L-type grains and 3.26 nm in E-type grains under the same temperature variation range. The number density of helium bubbles declines with increasing irradiation temperature, whereas the density of dislocation loops presents an opposite rising tendency. At 350 ℃, dislocation loops in L-type grains own larger average sizes than those in E-type grains at 0.3 dpa and 0.5 dpa. By contrast, E-type grains contain larger dislocation loops at 1.0 dpa with a size gap of 1.57 nm. Additionally, the density variation of dislocation loops shows an initial increase followed by a decrease as the irradiation dose rises. The systematic results provide reliable experimental evidence for further understanding the fundamental irradiation damage mechanisms of zirconium alloys, and also offer valuable theoretical references and practical guidance for the optimal design and microstructural modification of advanced nuclear-grade zirconium alloy materials.

     

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