Effect of neutron irradiation on nanoclusters in MA957 ferritic alloys

The effects of neutron irradiation to a dose of 3 dpa at 600 °C and creep for 38,555 h at 800 °C on the microstructure of a commercial MA957 alloy were investigated by atom probe tomography. The size, number density and composition of the 2-nm-diameter Ti-, Y-, O-enriched nanoclusters were similar in the unirradiated, crept and neutron irradiated conditions indicating that the microstructure of this nanostructured ferritic alloy has remarkable tolerance to radiation damage.

► The effects of irradiation and creep on the microstructure of a MA957 alloy were investigated by APT.
► Conditions were neutron irradiation to a dose of 3 dpa at 600 °C and creep for 38,555 h at 800 °C.
► No significant changes were observed in the size distribution or number density of the nanoclusters.
► Results indicate that the NFA microstructures have a remarkable tolerance to extreme conditions.