Deformation Microstructure of a Reduced-Activation Ferritic/Martensitic Steel Irradiated in HFIR

In order to determine the contributions of different microstructural features to strength and to deformation mode, microstructure of deformed flat tensile specimens of irradiated reduced activation F82H (IEA heat) base metal (BM) and its tungsten inert-gas (TIG) weldments (weld metal and weld joint) were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), following fracture surface examination by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After irradiation, the fracture surfaces of F82H BM and TIG weldment showed a martensitic mixed quasi-cleavage and ductile-dimple fracture. The microstructure of the deformed region of irradiated F82H BM contained dislocation channels. This suggests that dislocation channeling could be the dominant deformation mechanism in this steel, resulting in the loss of strain-hardening capacity. While, the necked region of the irradiated F82H TIG, where showed less hardening than F82H BM, showed deformation bands only. From these results, it is suggested that the pre-irradiation microstructure, especially the dislocation density, could affect the post-irradiation deformation mode.