The mechanism of solute-enriched clusters formation in neutron-irradiated pressure vessel steels: the case of Fe-Cu model alloys

TL;DR

This paper proposes a solute-drag mechanism model for the formation of solute-enriched clusters in neutron-irradiated pressure vessel steels, aligning well with experimental data and explaining why such clusters do not form in austenitic stainless steels.

Contribution

It introduces a novel solute-drag mechanism model for cluster formation in Fe-Cu alloys, explaining experimental observations and differences among steel types.

Findings

Model agrees with experimental cluster parameters.

Explains absence of clusters in austenitic steels.

Provides a method to evaluate neutron dose effects.

Abstract

Mechanism of solute-enriched clusters formation in neutron-irradiated pressure vessel steels is proposed and developed in case of Fe-Cu model alloys. We show that the obtained results are in a good agreement with available experimental data on the parameters of clusters enriched with the alloying elements. The suggested solute-drag mechanism is analogous to the well-known zone-refining process. Our model explains why the formation of solute-enriched clusters does not happen in austenitic stainless steels with fcc lattice structure. It also allows to quantify the method of evaluation of neutron irradiation dose for the process of RPV steels hardening.