Effect of triple ion beams in ferritic/martensitic steel on swelling behavior

The synergistic effects of displacement damage and atomic hydrogen and helium on swelling of the ferritic/martensitic steel, F82H, has been investigated. The irradiation was performed at temperatures between 470 and 600 °C to 50 dpa (displacement per atoms) under conditions of simultaneous ion beams consisting of Fe3+, He+ and H+ ions or Fe3+ and He+ ions. The swelling of F82H steel under triple beams with 18 appm He/dpa and 70 appm H/dpa was larger than that under dual beams with 18 appm He/dpa. The swelling in F82H under triple beams increased with decreasing irradiation temperature from 0.1% to 3.2%, while swelling under dual beams was between 0.04% and 0.08%. On the other hand, in the case of triple beam irradiation with a high ratio of gas/dpa, the swelling tended to increase with irradiation temperature. The swelling in ferritic/martensitic steels is significantly enhanced by the synergistic effect of displacement damage, hydrogen and helium atoms.