Analysis of helium and hydrogen effect on RAFS by means of multi-beam electron microscope

Effects of helium and hydrogen gas on microstructural evolution in pure iron, Fe–8Cr, and F82H IEA were investigated by means of a multi-beam electron microscope. Growth rate and saturated number density of dislocation loops were measured to calculate migration energies of point defects. In all irradiation temperature conditions, both the size and the number density of dislocation loops were increased as a function of dose. Irradiation with helium and hydrogen showed an increase in the temperature dependence of the dislocation loop growth rate compared to irradiation without helium and hydrogen. On the other hand, little difference was observed in the saturated loop number density at each irradiation temperature. The migration energy of interstitials was determined to be 0.3eV for both types of irradiation. The migration energy of vacancies was determined to be 0.9eV for electron irradiation. This in situ experiment indicated that the net migration energy of vacancies could be increased due to trapping by helium and hydrogen. Irradiation experiments indicated that net migration energy of vacancy in F82H IEA irradiated with helium or hydrogen tended to be higher compared to that in pure iron and Fe–8Cr, which could relate not only to helium and hydrogen, but also to carbon and nitrogen concentration in matrix.