Condensed-Matter Physics & Materials Science Seminar

Nanostructured alloys are considered as potential candidates for next generation (Generation IV) nuclear reactors because the high densities of interfacial defect sinks present in these materials. The effect of irradiation on the mechanical behavior of such alloys has received limited attention, likely resulting from the experimental challenges associated with performing such experiments. The first part of the talk will report on our recent efforts to perform high temperature irradiation induced creep (IIC) measurements in focused ion beam fabricated FCC alloys (single crystalline Ag nanopillars and nanocrystalline high entropy alloys (HEA) microbeams) by combining in-situ TEM based small-scale mechanical testing with ion irradiation and in-situ laser heating using the in-situ ion irradiation transmission electron microscope (I3TEM) at Sandia National Laboratories. The effect of pillar size, grain size, and temperature on the observed creep mechanism will be discussed. The second part of the talk will focus on the microstructural evolution of model highly immiscible CuW alloys during thermal annealing and high temperature irradiation characterized using high angle annular dark field (HAADF) imaging. The results will be discussed from the context of evolution and spatial distribution of W precipitates and its effect on hardness as a function of irradiation dose and temperature.