Characterisation of neutron irradiation damage in zirconium alloys - a 'round robin' experiment

Abstract

The nature of the damage structure in the neutron-irradiated zirconium specimens supplied as part of an international 'Round Robin1 experiment has been studied using transmission electron microscopy. The damage structure consists entirely of a/3 <1120> dislocation loops and no evidence has been found for c_ component loops. Both vacancy and interstitial loops were found in specimens where inside/outside contrast analysis was possible. Quantitative measurements of loop size distributions and loop concentrations are reported. All specimens exhibited corduroy contrast to varying degrees.