Electrochemical and microstructural characterization of an austenitic stainless steel irradiated by heavy ions at 515°C

• Published in: Journal of nuclear materials Vol. 187; no. 2; pp. 170 - 179
• Main Authors: Bell, G.E.C., Inazumi, T., Kenik, E.A., Kondo, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.04.1992; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Corrosion; Corrosion mechanisms; Exact sciences and technology; Metals. Metallurgy; Austenitic stainless steel; Electrochemical properties; Electrochemical corrosion; Investigation method; Heavy ion; Irradiation; Experimental study; Microstructure; Passivity breakdown
• ISSN: 0022-3115; 1873-4820
• DOI: 10.1016/0022-3115(92)90549-Z

The electrochemical and microstructural behavior of a solution-annealed, heavy-ion-irradiated, austenitic stainless steel. designated LS1A, have been investigated at 515°C after doses of 1.10 and 30 displacements per atom (dpa). Changes in electrochemical properties due to radiation-induced segregation in thin radiation-affected layers of the material were detected by the electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (EPR) technique using TEM disk specimens. At all doses, the Flade potential and reactivation charge were greater than those measured for thermally-aged control specimens. Grain face etching, similar to that found on EPR-tested neutron irradiated austenitic stainless steels, was observed on all specimens after testing. Duplicate heavy ion irradiated specimens were also examined by high resolution analytical electron microscopy (AEM). The 1 dpa specimen showed only a high density of small faulted dislocations (~ 10 nm), and no grain boundary precipitation or grain boundary segregation was detected. AEM confirmed chromium and molybdenum depletion at grain boundaries as measured by EPR for the 10 and 30 dpa specimens.