Void swelling in ion irradiated (15Ni–14Cr), Ti-modified stainless steel: A study using positron annihilation and step height measurements

The void swelling behaviour of (15Ni–14Cr) Ti-modified steels simulated by heavy ion irradiation, has been investigated using step height measurements and positron annihilation spectroscopy. 18% cold-worked samples were pre-implanted with helium at 170 keV and 275 keV energies so as to create a uniform helium concentration of 100 appm around the 588 nm depth region. This was followed by a 2.5 MeV Ni ion irradiation to create a peak damage of ~ 84 dpa (displacement per atom) at various irradiation temperatures between 700 and 970 K. The gross swelling which has occurred throughout the ion range is determined by step height measurements. Defect-sensitive positron annihilation lineshape S-parameter measurements show clear changes consequently to void formation as a function of sample depth. From the variation of the average S-parameter as a function of irradiation temperature, the peak swelling temperature has been deduced. The changes observed in step height measurements are compared with positron annihilation measurements and the results are discussed.