Microstructural evolution in NF616 (P92) and Fe–9Cr–0.1C-model alloy under heavy ion irradiation

In this comparative study, in situ investigations of the microstructure evolution in a Fee9Cr ferritic emartensitic steel, NF616, and a Fee9Cre0.1C-model alloy with a similar ferriticemartensitic microstructure have been performed. NF616 and Fee9Cre0.1C-model alloy were irradiated to high doses (up to ~10 dpa) with 1 MeV Kr ions between 50 and 673 K. Defect cluster density increased with dose and saturated in both alloys. The average size of defect clusters in NF616 was constant between 50 and 573 K, on the other hand average defect size increased with dose in Fee9Cre0.1C-model alloy around ~1 dpa. At low temperatures (50e298 K), alignment of small defect clusters resulted in the formation of extensive defects in Fee9Cre0.1C-model alloy around ~2e3 dpa, while similar large defects in NF616 started to form at a high temperature of 673 K around ~5 dpa. Interaction of defect clusters with the lath boundaries were found to be much more noticeable in Fee9Cre0.1C-model alloy. Differences in the microstructural evolution of NF616 and Fee9Cre0.1C-model alloy are explained by means of the defect cluster trapping by solute atoms which depends on the solute atom concentrations in the alloys.