Microstructural analysis of ion-irradiation-induced hardening in inconel 718

As an assessment for a possible accelerator beam line window material for the US Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) target, performance, radiation-induced hardening and microstructural evolution in Inconel 718 were investigated in both solution annealed (SA) and precipitation hardened (PH) conditions. Irradiations were carried out using 3.5 MeV Fe+, 370 keV He+ and 180 keV H+ either singly or simultaneously at 200 °C to simulate the damage and He/H production in the SNS target vessel wall. This resulted in systematic hardening in SA Inconel and gradual net softening in the PH material. TEM microstructural analysis showed the hardening was associated with the formation of small loop and faulted loop structures. Helium-irradiated specimens included more loops and cavities than Fe+ ion-irradiated specimens. Softening of the PH material was due to dissolution of the γ′/γ″ precipitates. High doses of helium were implanted in order to study the effect of high retention of gaseous transmutation products. Simultaneous with the hardening and/or softening due to the displacement damage cascade, helium filled cavities produced additional hardening at high concentrations.