Modeling studies on the precipitation of Kr after implantation into metals

A rate-theory approach is applied to interpreting observations on the precipitation of Kr injected into Ni at temperatures between 25 and 560/degree/C. At temperatures of 400/degree/C or higher, the implanted Kr precipitates evolve into a bi-modal size distribution containing small solid precipitates and an additional population of larger, faceted bubbles. The calculations explore the dependence of the observed bi-modal distribution on the maximum size of the solid Kr precipitates and the effect of this dependence on bubble mobility. The analysis suggests that during the irradiation, whereas the large bubbles move by surface diffusion, the solid Kr precipitates are immobile. The relevance of the Kr-Ni interaction on the solid Kr precipitates size cutoff is discussed. 18 refs., 8 figs., 2 tabs