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High dose neutron irradiation damage in alpha alumina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

R.A. Youngman ,
T.E. Mitchell ,
F.W. Clinard Jr.  and
G.F. Hurley
R.A. Youngman
Affiliation:
BP Research, 4440 Warrensville Center Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44128
T.E. Mitchell
Affiliation:
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Center for Materials Science, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
F.W. Clinard Jr.
Affiliation:
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Materials Science and Technology, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
G.F. Hurley
Affiliation:
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Materials Science and Technology, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
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Abstract

Bulk samples of single crystalline and polycrystalline alpha alumina have been neutron-irradiated in the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II) to doses of 1026 n/m2 at temperatures of 925 K and 1100 K. The samples were found to swell macroscopically between 3% and 6%, depending on the temperature of irradiation and the form of the material. The damaged microstructures were investigated via transmission electron microscopy in order to understand the origin of the macroscopic swelling. In both single crystals and polycrystals the damage consists of a high density of dislocations containing predominately b = 1/3<101> dislocation loops on the (0001) planes coexistent with a high density of voids, which are aligned along the c-axis in this rhombohedral material. The established theory of void formation in metals is utilized to explain the formation of voids in alumina. The polycrystalline samples were extensively microcracked, and this is thought to be due to anisotropic swelling of the grains which in turn leads to stresses and fracturing at the grain boundaries.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 6 , Issue 10 , October 1991 , pp. 2178 - 2187
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1991

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