Microstructure evolution of recrystallized Zircaloy-4 under charged particles irradiation

Influence of vacancy diffusional anisotropy: Understanding the growth of zirconium alloys under irradiation and their microstructure evolution

“…Such loops are readily produced during irradiation. The nature of the loops (interstitial or vacancy), their density and diameter depend on several parameters such as the irradiation temperature, grain size or the presence of alloying elements (see [2], [3], [4] for instance). An important point is that these loops are mostly aligned in rows or layers parallel with the trace of the basal plane (0001).…”

A new scenario for ‹c› vacancy loop formation in zirconium based on atomic-scale modeling

“…Many authors have studied defect clusters in post-irradiation microstructure of zirconium alloys by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a compilation of observations being given by Griffiths [5]. For neutron-irradiated zirconium alloys for low irradiation dose (< 5×10 25 nm -2 ) at temperatures between 250 and 400°C, numerous studies [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] reveal a high density (typically between 5×10 21 and 5×10 22 m -3 ) of perfect dislocation loops of vacancy or interstitial nature with Burgers vector 〈112 0〉 (‹a›-type) of diameter between 5 and 20 nm. The three ‹a› Burgers vectors are equally represented and the proportion of ‹a› vacancy loops increases with the irradiation temperature [5,9].…”

The effect of irradiation temperature on damage structures in proton-irradiated zirconium alloys

“…An increase in a-loop diameter with increasing irradiation temperature was also observed in Zircaloy-2 irradiated up to a fluence of 1 x 10 25 n m -2 and this a-loop diameter increase was correlated with a decrease in the dislocation line density [12]. The effect of irradiation temperature has also been studied through the use of electron-irradiation [13][14][15]. Most recently, Gaumé et al demonstrated that at elevated electron-irradiation temperatures, an increase in a-loop diameter was observed in Zircaloy-4 [13].…”

“…The effect of irradiation temperature has also been studied through the use of electron-irradiation [13][14][15]. Most recently, Gaumé et al demonstrated that at elevated electron-irradiation temperatures, an increase in a-loop diameter was observed in Zircaloy-4 [13].…”