The effect of neutron irradiation on the tensile properties and growth of zirconium-8.6 wt% aluminum

The effect of fast neutron irradiation (not more than 3.2 x 1024n/m2 at 600 K) on the irradiation growth and tensile properties has been assessed for Zr-8.6 wt% Al. The irradiation growth, attributed to a swelling phenomenon, initially increases rapidly but saturates at approximately 0.3 per cent at a fluence of not less than 1.9 x 1024n/m2. Neutron irradiation significantly increases the yield stress and ultimate tensile strength with the effect saturating at a fluence of more than 1.3 x 1024n/m2. The increase in strength is tentatively explained in terms of an increase in resistance to dislocation glide by irradiation-induced disordering or dislocation pinning. (author)