Evolution of Dislocation Loops Induced by Different Hydrogen Irradiation Conditions in Reduced-Activation Martensitic Steel

Hydrogen can be induced in various ways into reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steels when they are used as structural materials for advanced nuclear systems. However, because of the fast diffusion of hydrogen in metals, the effect of hydrogen on the evolution of irradiation-induced defects was almost neglected. In the present work, the effect of hydrogen on the evolution of dislocation loops was investigated using a transmission electron microscope. Specimens of reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steels were irradiated with hydrogen ions to 5 × 1020 H+ • m−2 at 523⁻823 K, and to 1 × 1020 H+ • m−2 − 5 × 1020 H+ • m−2 at 723 K. The experimental results reveal that there is an optimum temperature for dislocation loop growth, which is ~723 K, and it is greater than the reported values for neutron irradiations. Surprisingly, the sizes of the loops produced by hydrogen ions, namely, 93 nm and 286 nm for the mean and maximum value, respectively, at the peak dose of 0.16 dpa under 723 K, are much larger than that produced by neutrons and heavy ions at the same damage level and temperature. The results indicate that hydrogen could enhance the growth of loops. Moreover, 47.3% 1 2   a0 <111> and 52.7% a0 <100> loops were observed at 523 K, but 1 2   a0 <111> loops disappeared and only a0 <100> loops existed above 623 K. Compared with the neutron and ion irradiations, the presence of hydrogen promoted the formation of a0 <100> loops