Comparative study of helium effects on EU-ODS EUROFER and EUROFER97 by nanoindentation and TEM

Helium effects on EU-ODS EUROFER were studied by means of nanoindentation and TEM. The results were compared with those of EUROFER97. Both steels were implanted in a stair-like profile configuration using energies from 2 MeV (maximum He content ∼750 appm He) to 15 MeV (minimum He ∼350 appm He) at room temperature. The nanoindentation tests on He implanted samples showed a hardness increase that depended on the He concentration. The maximum hardness increase observed at 5 mN was 21% in EU-ODS EUROFER and 41% in EUROFER97; it corresponded with the zone with the highest He concentration which was around 750 appm, according to MARLOWE simulation. In addition, FIB lamellae were prepared from EUROFER97 and EU-ODS EUROFER containing the aforementioned zones with maximum (750 appm) and minimum (300 appm) He. TEM investigations carried out showed small and homogeneously distributed He nanobubbles on both alloys in the zone corresponding with maximum He content. These microstructural features seem to be the cause of the hardness increase measured by nanoindentation.