EFFECT OF PROTON IRRADIATION ON TENSILE PROPERTIES OF CU AND A CU-CR-ZR ALLOY

The present work examines the simulated effect on tensile properties of the 14 MeV neutron radiation received by the OFHC Cu and Cu-Cr-Zr alloy by using 18 MeV proton irradiation. Protons with an energy in this region can be used to simulate some of the effects of 14 MeV neutrons provided that the problems and limitations of such simulations are borne in mind. To obtain homogeneously proton-irradiated specimens the specimen thickness needs to be somewhat less than the range of the protons in the particular material of interest. For 18 MeV protons and copper, this and the requirements of adequate cooling during irradiation limit the specimen thickness to about 0. 150 mm. In the present work, foils of 0. 145 mm thickness of 'annealed' OFHC Cu and a Cu-Cr-Zr alloy in the 'as-received' state were used.