Numerical simulation modeling on the effects of grain boundary misorientation on radiation-induced solute segregation in 304 austenitic stainless steels

The purpose of this study is to develop a model to describe the effects of the grain boundary misorientation on the radiation-induced solute segregation (RIS) in 304 stainless steels. A simple rate equation model with modified boundary conditions, which included the fluxes of defects diffusing along the grain boundaries to the grain boundary dislocations, was developed for RIS at boundaries with different Σ values. The results of the model calculations were compared to the experimental results previously reported by us. It was found that the model could clearly predict the same trends that the Cr depletion levels at special boundaries in irradiated 304 stainless steels were increasing with Σ. The model calculations also showed that the widths of the segregation cusps was decreasing with increasing Σ.