Zirconium and Zirconium alloys. Structure atlas (Voids in Zirconium and Zirconium alloys)

A classification and analysis of the data reported on one of the radiation-induced defects - vacancy voids growth in zirconium alloys, exposed to reactor radiation have been performed. The analysis data indicate that the radiation-induced porosity is not a characteristic component of the radiation damage under current LWR reactor conditions and common reactor experiments. The data available on the voids observed in Zirconium and Zirconium alloys exposed to reactor irradiation are scanty and not numerous and they relate to individual voids or groups of voids located close to structural defects (grain boundaries, certain impurities, stacking defects) rather than a void system as integral part of the radiation damage. Pores in reactor irradiated Zirconium and Zirconium alloys tend to arrangement; they often have faceted structure (facets parallel to { 1010 }, { 1011} and (0001), the facet parallel to (0001) being the longest)