Small-angle neutron scattering applied to low-dose neutron-irradiated Fe–Cr alloys and ferritic martensitic steel Eurofer97

Ferritic/martensitic (F/M) Fe–Cr-based steels are candidates for applications in nuclear fission and fusion. Previous experimental results for neutron-irradiated binary Fe–Cr alloys and high-dose neutron-irradiated F/M steels contributed greatly to the understanding of the irradiation behaviour of these groups of materials. However, some details still need to be addressed. Such gaps are related to the effect of secondary alloying and impurity elements, such as Ni and Si, as well as the dose dependence at lower neutron doses [ e.g. in the range 0.1–1 displacements per atom (dpa)]. This input is essential, for example, for multiscale modelling of irradiation effects or the evaluation of nuclear fission or fusion components at the first stages of operation. Using small-angle neutron scattering, three issues are addressed: (1) the effect of Cr undersaturation (5% Cr) and supersaturation (14% Cr) on the formation of irradiation-induced solute atom clusters/precipitates in low-dose neutron-irradiated Fe–Cr alloys in the presence of intentionally added levels of Ni, Si and P; (2) the effect of irradiation temperature (290°C versus 450°C); and (3) the effect of neutron dose in the range 0.06–0.6 dpa on the irradiation response of the reduced-activation F/M 9%Cr steel Eurofer97. The irradiation-enhanced formation of Cr-rich α′-phase particles was found to be the dominant effect for supersaturated Fe–14Cr–NiSiP at both irradiation temperatures. In contrast, α′ formation is impossible in Fe–5Cr–NiSiP, for which the pronounced irradiation effects observed at 0.1 dpa are mainly attributed to added Ni, Si and P. Finally, Eurofer97 exhibits an exceptionally weak irradiation effect at low neutron doses, the reasons for which are also considered.