Radiation blistering: recent developments

Different metals have been proposed for radiation blistering of metals. For example, for the formation of blisters on helium bombarded metal surfaces such models are based on the coalescence of gas bubbles and the build-up of excess gas pressure in the implant region, causing large enough stresses for the occurrence of plastic deformation of the surface regions; or the percolation of helium in the lattice; or the build-up of large, lateral stresses in the implant layer causing buckling. These models are critically reviewed in the light of recent experimental results. A discussion of blistering effects at high doses is included