VOID-SWELLING IN IRONS AND FERRITIC STEELS .1. MECHANISMS OF SWELLING SUPPRESSION

Point defect and dislocation behaviour in α-iron and ferritic steels relevant to the understanding of their void-swelling resistance during elevated temperature irradiation is summarized. The key role played by both interstitial and substitutional solutes in inducing enhanced mutual recombination of point defects through trapping processes and also in lowering dislocation mobility and bias for preferential self-interstitial capture in these materials, and thereby controlling their void-swelling response, is emphasized. © 1979.