Plasticity in ion-irradiated austenitic stainless steels

In an attempt to take advantage of charged particle irradiation for studying the effects of irradiation on the mechanical properties of metals, we developed an experimental procedure based on the combination of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and submicron indentation of ion-implanted layers. We applied this technique to industrial 316L steel, irradiated with krypton ions up to 10 dpa at 873 K. A domain where the penetration range of the ions and the indentation depth are compatible has been identified. The indentation tests then yielded a good estimate of hardness and bulk modulus, while the TEM observations provide microstructural information in the plastic regime. It is shown that the combination of the two techniques is necessary for rationalizing the observed results.