Possibility of suppression of the formation of solute-enriched clusters

Abstract

Based on the earlier proposed mechanism of formation of solute-enriched clusters in irradiated pressure vessel steels, it has been demonstrated that it is possible to suppress this process by the method of light alloying of PVS with a chemical element with specially selected properties such as solubility, activity, and mobility. It is shown that it is possible to change the thermal spike molten zone solidification mechanism and suppress the "solute drag" leading to the formation of solute-enriched clusters. It must be noted that such a solute-enriched cluster formation mechanism is appropriate for alloying elements with low solubilities - it fits for B.C.C. steel-metal of PVS, but does not for the F.C.C. austenitic steels.