Philip A. Sterne

Positron annihilation spectroscopy and small-angle neutron scattering characterization of the effect of Mn on the nanostructural features formed in irradiated Fe–Cu–Mn alloys

The size, number density, and composition of the nanometre-sized defects responsible for the hardening and embrittlement in irradiated Fe–0.9 wt% Cu and Fe–0.9 wt% Cu–1.0 wt% Mn model reactor pressure vessel alloys were measured using small-angle neutron scattering and positron annihilation spectroscopy. These alloys were irradiated at 290°C to relatively low neutron fluences (E > 1 MeV, 6.0 × 1020 to 4.0 × 1021 n m−2) in order to study the effect of manganese on the nucleation and growth of copper-rich precipitates and secondary defect features. Copper-rich precipitates were present in both alloys following irradiation. The effect of Mn was to reduce the size and increase the number density of precipitates in the Fe–Cu–Mn alloy relative to the Fe–Cu alloy. Vacancy clusters were observed in the Fe–Cu alloy, but not in the Fe–Cu–Mn alloy. These results suggest a strong effect of Mn on vacancy diffusion and clustering.

Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy of Nanostructural Features in Model Reactor Pressure Vessel Steels

Irradiation embrittlement in nuclear reactor pressure vessel steels results from the formation of a high number density of nanometer sized copper rich precipitates and sub-nanometer defect-solute clusters. We present positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) results to characterize the compositions and magnetic character of these defects in model A533B reactor pressure vessel steels. The results confirm the presence of copper-rich precipitates after irradiation. The measured orbital electron momentum spectra indicate the precipitates are alloyed with Mn and Ni. The copper precipitates larger than R {approx} 1.2 nm (from SANS measurements) are non-magnetic, which limits the possible Fe content of the precipitates to at most a few %. Notably, large vacancy clusters observed in neutron irradiated Fe-Cu alloys were not observed in the steels after irradiation.

Bulk materials analysis using high-energy positron beams

This article reviews some recent materials analysis results using high‐energy positron beams at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. We are combining positron lifetime and orbital electron momentum spectroscopic methods to provide electron number densities and electron momentum distributions around positron annihilation sites. Topics covered include the correlation of positron annihilation characteristics with structural and mechanical properties of bulk metallic glasses and compositional studies of embrittling features in nuclear reactor pressure vessel steel.