The mechanism of radiation-induced segregation in ferritic–martensitic alloys

The mechanism of radiation-induced segregation in Fe–Cr alloys was modeled using the inverse Kirkendall mechanism and compared to experimental measurements over a range of temperatures, bulk Cr compositions, and irradiation dose. The model showed that over a large temperature range chromium was enriched at sinks by interstitial migration, and at very high temperatures it was depleted by diffusing opposite to the vacancy flux. Experimental results and model predictions were in good qualitative and quantitative agreement with regard to the temperature dependence of segregation and the crossover from Cr enrichment to Cr depletion. The inverse Kirkendall mechanism was also in agreement with experimental findings that observed a decreasing amount of Cr enrichment with increasing bulk Cr composition. The effects of solute drag were modeled within the inverse Kirkendall framework, but were unable to account for either the crossover from Cr enrichment to Cr depletion or the magnitudes of segregation measured in experiments.