Study of the deformation mechanisms in a Fe–14% Cr ODS alloy

Abstract In this present work, the plasticity of a rod bar of a 14% Cr ferritic ODS steel is examined through a multiscale approach based on both macroscopic and microscopic results. This bar was elaborated at CEA by powder metallurgy and consolidated by hot extrusion. The microstructure of the material has been characterized. First, the tensile behavior of this material is studied in a wide range of temperatures. Thereafter, through in situ Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) straining experiments, dislocation/dislocation and dislocation/precipitates interactions are observed. The collapse of the tensile properties noticed from 400 °C can be explained by a change in the deformation mechanism. At lower temperatures, the hardening seems to be due to the precipitates, dislocations are pinned on oxides. At higher temperatures, the hardening role of the precipitates is still observed, but the dislocations seem to move in a more steady way, thermal activation of dislocations sources is observed and leads to formation of cavities at the grain boundaries.