Microstructure of neutron irradiated SS316L/DS-Cu joint

To investigate the thermal effects on joint interfaces, hot isostatic pressed (HIPed) and explosively bonded dispersion strengthened copper (GlidCop CuAl25)/316L stainless steel joint samples were irradiated in high flux isotope reactor at 573 K to a dose of about 4.6 dpa. After irradiation, the interface between CuAl25 and SS316L was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The microstructure of neutron-irradiated CuAl25 was strongly affected by the thermal effects during the fabrication. In the HIPed sample, a high density of precipitates composed of Fe (Cr) and voids were observed in coarsened Cu grains. In the explosively bonded sample, on the other hand, the growth of the Cu grains were very limited, which resulted in less void formation in GlidCop CuAl25.