Microstructural evolution in nickel alloy C-276 after Ar-ion irradiation at elevated temperature

In present work, the irradiation damage in nickel-base alloy C-276 irradiated with Ar-ions was studied. Specimens of C-276 alloy were subjected to an irradiation of Ar-ions (with 120 keV) to dose levels of 6 and 10 dpa at 300 and 550 °C, respectively. The size distributions and densities of dislocation loops caused by irradiation were investigated with transmission electron microscopy. Irradiation hardening due to the formation of the loops was calculated using the dispersed barrier-hardening model, showing that irradiation hardening was greatest at 300 °C/6 dpa. The microstructure evolution induced by Ar-ion irradiation (0–10 dpa) in nickel-base alloy C-276 has been studied using a multi-scale modeling code Radieff constructed based on rate theory, and the size of dislocation loops simulated by Radieff was in good agreement with the experiment.

► High density of dislocation loops appeared after Ar ions irradiation.
► Irradiation hardening due to the formation of loops was calculated by the DBH model.
► Size of loops simulated by Radieff was in good agreement with the experiment.