New developments in irradiation-induced microstructural evolution of austenitic alloys and their consequences on mechanical properties

Abstract

A survey is presented of recent developments in the study of radiation-induced changes in the microstructure of austenitic structural alloys that occur in fission reactors. The associated macroscopic consequences of these changes on both mechanical properties and dimensional stability are also reviewed. It is anticipated that some changes will occur in these phenomena as a result of the differences inherent in fission and fusion neutron spectra, but relevant data obtained to date do not indicate that the effects of helium and several other transmutation-related differences will be large.