2011 Volume 52 Issue 7 Pages 1447-1451
The aim of this work is to investigate the influence of neutron irradiation condition, especially temperature, on irradiation hardening and microstructure development in irradiated tungsten-rhenium (W-Re) alloys. Neutron irradiations were carried out in JOYO at the range of 400 to 750°C, up to 1.54 dpa. Micro Vickers hardness tests and micro structural observations using a TEM were performed. Irradiation hardening of W-Re alloys irradiated at 538°C were clearly larger than those irradiated at other temperatures. Fine voids and fine needle- or plate-like precipitates were observed in pure W and W-Re alloys irradiated at 538°C, respectively, with high number density. The fine complex microstructure seems to be the cause of the characteristic irradiation hardening.
