Strain-induced precipitate dissolution in an irradiated austenitic alloy

The distribution of radiation-induced precipitates in a proton-irradiated austenitic alloy following tensile testing in a simulated boiling water reactor environment was examined. Dissolution of Ni/Si-rich precipitates was observed for the first time using atom probe tomography. Dissolution of precipitates was likely due to accelerated kinetics as a result of repetitive cutting by a large number of glissile dislocations in slip planes.