On the interaction between radiation-induced defects and foreign interstitial atoms in α-iron

Interaction between Frenkel pair (FP) defects and nitrogen atoms in α-iron has been investigated by means of resistivity recovery method. Both FP defects are attracted to nitrogen atoms. Dissociation of self-interstitial atoms from nitrogen atoms is observed at 165 K while that of vacancies at 250 K. The binding energies of FP defects with nitrogen are both about 0.1–0.15 eV. A weak RR stage is observed at 340 K assigned to the presence of carbon in concentration of about 1 appm. Analysis of its features leads to a conclusion on a dissociation (binding) energy of vacancy-carbon atom pairs of about 0.9 (0.35) eV.