Quantitative measurement of argon inside of nano-sized bubbles in ODS steels

Quantitative analysis of Ar gas in nano-sized bubbles in ODS steel was performed using spatially resolved energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The Ar Kα line was quantified and used for calculation of Ar the concentration (atoms per nm3) inside 4–38 nm large bubbles. The Ar concentration and pressure inside bubbles were found to depend on the bubble size. The results were compared with a known equilibrium pressure model developed for calculation of He pressure inside nano-sized bubbles. Several investigations were performed to determine the stability of Ar bubbles in the thin TEM foil.