Effect of hydrogen ion/electron dual-beam irradiation on microstructural damage of a 12Cr-ODS ferrite steel

The effect of hydrogen ion/electron dual-beam irradiation on the microstructural evolution of a new 12Cr-ODS ferrite steel made by chemical soaking method (CSM) was investigated. The results showed that the dislocations were introduced at the initial stage of irradiation and then developed into dislocation networks. The void swellings after the irradiation to a dose of 15 dpa were less than 0.15%. The interface between the dispersed oxide particle and the matrix became irregular due to the irradiation; while the macroscopic size change of the oxide particle was not recognized, thus suggesting that the steel had a good resistance to irradiation during the dual-beam irradiations between 623 K and 823 K. The formation of voids with small mean size and high number density was closely concerned with hydrogen which would assist the void nucleation as a result of hydrogen ion trapping vacancies during the irradiation.