Effect of ballistic re-solution on the nucleation kinetics of precipitates in diluted binary alloys under irradiation. Part 2: Cr-rich alpha' precipitates in Fe-Cr alloys

TL;DR

This paper develops a new kinetic model for alpha'-phase precipitate nucleation in Fe-Cr alloys, incorporating ballistic re-solution effects, to better understand precipitate stability under irradiation.

Contribution

It introduces a modified homogeneous nucleation and growth model that accounts for ballistic re-solution effects in Fe-Cr alloys, advancing the understanding of irradiation-induced precipitate behavior.

Findings

Model explains stability of alpha' precipitates under irradiation

Highlights the role of ballistic re-solution in nucleation kinetics

Provides qualitative interpretation of recent experimental results

Abstract

On the base of a critical analysis of existing models for nucleation of new phase precipitates in metastable binary alloys, a new kinetic model of homogeneous nucleation and growth of alpha'-phase precipitates in Fe-Cr alloys was developed within the framework of the Reiss kinetic theory of binary nucleation. The model was further modified to account for the influence of ballistic re-solution on the kinetics of nucleation and growth of alpha' precipitates, following the general approach proposed in Part 1. The model was used for qualitative interpretation of the results of recent tests, in which the stability of alpha' precipitates in Fe-15Cr alloys under irradiation was studied.