Computer simulations study of iron–copper alloy

Autor: J. C. Turbatte, Christophe Domain, Y. Souffez, Charlotte Becquart, J. C. Van Duysen, J. Ruste
Rok vydání: 1997
Předmět:
Zdroj: Radiation Effects and Defects in Solids. 141:325-336
ISSN: 1029-4953
1042-0150
DOI: 10.1080/10420159708211579
Popis: The vessel steels of pressurised water reactors are embrittled by neutron irradiation. The changes of mechanical properties are commonly supposed to result from the formation of point defects, dislocation loops, voids and Cu-rich precipitates. The composition of such precipitates, specially the existence of vacancies, is not accessible through experiments. It is suggested that two mechanisms promote the formation of Cu-rich features in pressure vessel steels during neutron irradiation. When the Cu content is lower than 0.1%, solute-rich atmospheres can be formed in displacement cascades. For higher Cu contents, in addition to the latter phenomenon, a mechanism of accelerated precipitation can also induce the formation of Cu-rich clusters or precipitates. In order to understand all the mechanisms, Molecular Dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations have been carried out in pure Fe, and Fe–Cu alloys. Inter-atomic potentials of the Embedded Atom Method type, found in literature for pure Fe and pure Cu we...
Databáze: OpenAIRE