Irradiation-tolerant nanostructured ferritic alloys: Transforming helium from a liability to an asset

Nanostructuredferritic alloys (NFAs) have the potential to make transformational contributions to developing advanced sources of fission and fusion energy. NFAs are Fe-Cr based ferritic stainless steels that contain an ultrahigh density of Y-Ti-O nanofeatures (NFs). The NFs provide both outstanding high temperature properties and remarkable tolerance to irradiation induced displacement damage as well as the degrading effects of transmutation product helium. Indeed, NFs can transform helium from a liability to an asset by forming a high density of nm-scale bubbles that act as sinks for point defects and helium may provide near immunity to radiation damage. This article outlines recent progress on engaging the challenges facing NFA development.

[1]  P. J. Maziasz,et al.  Overview of microstructural evolution in neutron-irradiated austenitic stainless steels , 1993 .

[2]  B. Wirth,et al.  Positron annihilation characterization of nanostructured ferritic alloys , 2009 .

[3]  D. Hoelzer,et al.  Mechanical properties of irradiated ODS-EUROFER and nanocluster strengthened 14YWT , 2009 .

[4]  E. Marquis.  Core/shell structures of oxygen-rich nanofeatures in oxide-dispersion strengthened Fe–Cr alloys , 2008 .

[5]  C. Liu,et al.  Ultrafine-grained nanocluster-strengthened alloys with unusually high creep strength , 2009 .

[6]  G. R. Odette,et al.  On the role of alloy composition and processing parameters in nanocluster formation and dispersion strengthening in nanostuctured ferritic alloys , 2009 .

[7]  Y. Dai,et al.  The microstructure and tensile properties of ferritic/martensitic steels T91, Eurofer-97 and F82H irradiated up to 20 dpa in STIP-III , 2010 .

[8]  Mikhail A. Sokolov,et al.  Influence of Particle Dispersions on the High-Temperature Strength of Ferritic Alloys , 2007 .

[9]  H. Kitazawa,et al.  A new method for the quantitative analysis of the scale and composition of nanosized oxide in 9Cr-ODS steel , 2009 .

[10]  A. Möslang,et al.  Tensile and fracture toughness properties of the nanostructured oxide dispersion strengthened ferritic alloy 13Cr–1W–0.3Ti–0.3Y2O3 , 2011 .

[11]  D. Hoelzer,et al.  Mechanical properties of neutron irradiated nanostructured ferritic alloy 14YWT , 2009 .

[12]  Y. Carlan,et al.  Evaluation of threshold stress of the MA957 ODS ferrtic alloy , 2009 .

[13]  G. R. Odette,et al.  Helium effects on microstructural evolution in tempered martensitic steels: In situ helium implanter studies in HFIR , 2009 .

[14]  Joshua R. Smith,et al.  Formation of Y-Ti-O nanoclusters in nanostructured ferritic alloys : A first-principles study , 2009 .

[15]  G. Odette,et al.  Helium transport, fate and management in nanostructured ferritic alloys: In situ helium implanter studies , 2011 .

[16]  Maja Krcmar,et al.  Vacancy mechanism of high oxygen solubility and nucleation of stable oxygen-enriched clusters in Fe. , 2007, Physical review letters.

[17]  Michael Klimenkov,et al.  New insights into the structure of ODS particles in the ODS-Eurofer alloy , 2009 .

[18]  Louis K. Mansur,et al.  Mechanisms of helium interaction with radiation effects in metals and alloys: A review , 1983 .

[19]  R. Nicholls,et al.  Achieving sub-nanometre particle mapping with energy-filtered TEM. , 2009, Ultramicroscopy.

[20]  G. Odette.  On mechanisms controlling swelling in ferritic and martensitic alloys , 1988 .

[21]  Joshua R. Smith,et al.  Prediction of structural, electronic and elastic properties of Y2Ti2O7 and Y2TiO5 , 2010 .

[22]  Brian D. Wirth,et al.  Recent Developments in Irradiation-Resistant Steels , 2008 .

[23]  S. Zinkle,et al.  Structural materials for fission & fusion energy , 2009 .

[24]  H. Trinkaus.  On the modeling of the high-temperature embrittlement of metals containing helium , 1983 .

[25]  R. Ritchie,et al.  An evaluation of the application of fracture mechanics procedures to fusion first wall structures , 1981 .