The role of irradiated microstructure in the localized deformation of austenitic stainless steels

Localized deformation has emerged as a potential factor in irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking of austenitic stainless steels in LWR environments and the irradiated microstructure may be a critical factor in controlling the degree of localized deformation. Seven austenitic alloys with various compositions were irradiated using 2–3 MeV protons to doses of 1 and 5 dpa at 360 °C. The irradiated microstructure consisting of dislocation loops and voids was characterized using transmission electron microscopy. The degree of localized deformation was characterized using atomic force microscopy on the deformed samples after conducting constant extension rate tension tests to 1% and 3% strain in argon. Localized deformation was found to be dependent on the irradiated microstructure and to correlate with hardening originating from dislocation loops. Dislocation loops enhance the formation of dislocation channels and localize deformation into existing channels. On the contrast, voids mitigate the degree of localized deformation. The degree of localized deformation decreases with SFE with the exception of alloy B. Localized deformation was found to have similar dependence on SFE as loop density suggesting that SFE affects localized deformation by altering irradiated microstructure.