Void formation in solution-treated AISI 316 and 321 stainless steels under 46.5 MeV Ni6+ irradiation

The swelling and radiation damage structure developed in solution-treated 316 and 321 stainless steels bombarded by 46.5 MeV Ni6+ ions in the Variable Energy Cyclotron (VEC) have been determined. Foils were pre-injected with 10-5 a/a He at room temperature and subsequently bombarded by Ni6+ ions in the temperature range 450-7500C at a damage rate of 1-3 x 10-3 dpa per second to doses up to 300 dpa and specimens from the foils were examined by transmission electron microscopy. The data obtained were compared with data from other experiments aimed at simulating the fast-neutron irradiation of 316 and 321 steels, in particular previous work with 20 MeV C2+ ions and with data on fast-reactor bombarded material. The swelling rates in Ni-ion bombarded specimens were about a factor two less than those in C-ion bombarded specimens and in good agreement with swelling rates in 5 MeV Ni+- and neutron-bombarded material. The peak swelling temperature after a dose of 40 dpa was 6500C in 316 steel and 6250C in 321 steel where the swelling was about 5.8% and 4.6% respectively. (Auth.)