A systematic study of radiation-induced segregation in ferritic–martensitic alloys

A systematic approach to measuring radiation-induced segregation (RIS) was used on four ferritic–martensitic (F–M) alloys: T91, HCM12A, HT9, and a Fe–9Cr model alloy, irradiated with 2.0 MeV protons over a range of doses (1–10 dpa) and temperatures (300–700°C). The experimental conditions are established so as to isolate the dependence of RIS on the experimental parameters: temperature, dose and bulk composition. RIS is measured at prior austenite grain boundaries (PAGBs) using the STEM/EDX technique. Chromium is found to enrich at PAGBs in all conditions with the exception being T91 irradiated to 3 dpa at 700°C. The magnitude of enrichment is small (<2 at%). Minor elements Si, Ni, and Cu also enrich consistently. A bell-shaped temperature dependence of RIS is observed in all elements. The amount of Cr enrichment decreases as a function of increasing bulk Cr concentration. Lastly, it is found that the 9Cr model alloy reaches a steady-state Cr RIS behavior at approximately 7 dpa, while the T91 reaches what may be a steady state near 3 dpa, then the amount of enrichment decreases at 10 dpa.