Mechanisms of helium irradiation blistering and surface deformation in tungsten

Fan，Cuncai1,2; Pan，Shuai2,3; Hu，Xunxiang4; He，Binbin3; Huang，Mingxin2

2023-08-01

10.1016/j.actamat.2023.118993

Acta Materialia   影响因子和分区

1359-6454

1873-2453

Helium irradiation blistering in tungsten is of intense interest for plasma-facing materials under fusion-relevant conditions. Previous studies have revealed that the surface blistering is closely related to the evolution of subsurface microstructures (e.g., bubbles and cracks), but its dependence on the surface orientation and deformation remains unclear. The present work reports the helium irradiation blistering on the surface planes of tungsten {100}, {110} and {111}. A systematic study of helium irradiation blistering was conducted at room temperature by utilizing a Helium Ion Microscope. The cross-sectional microstructural analyses at different ion fluences confirmed that the blistering deformation starts with the nanocrack nucleation, initiated at the peak in the bubble depth distribution via interbubble fracture, and is followed by the gas buildup in a primary cavity. In addition, the comparison of blistering behaviors between 1-µm-diameter and 2-µm-diameter circular areas revealed that only the blisters formed on tungsten {100} can grow to a larger size, whereas those formed on tungsten {110} or {111} tend to become wrinkled or burst when the irradiated area increases. Combined with the micropillar compressions in a Scanning Electron Microscope, it was also found that the surface deformation is orientation-dependent and associated with the number, symmetry and distribution of effective slip systems in body-centered-cubic transition metals. Our findings provide new evidence and insights into the mechanisms of helium irradiation blistering and surface deformation in tungsten.

Cross slip Helium irradiation blistering Interbubble fracture Micropillar compression Tungsten

SCI ; EI

英语

通讯

National Key Research and Development Program of China Stem Cell and Translational Research[2019YFA0209900];National Natural Science Foundation of China[52130102];Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality[JCYJ20210324120209026];Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee[R7066-18];National Natural Science Foundation of China[U52071173];

Materials Science ; Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering

Materials Science, Multidisciplinary ; Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering

WOS:000999144700001

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

20232014093090

Compaction ; Fracture ; Helium ; Ions ; Irradiation ; Scanning electron microscopy

Tungsten and Alloys:543.5 ; Chemical Products Generally:804 ; Materials Science:951

MATERIALS SCIENCE

2-s2.0-85159150117

Scopus

1.Department of Mechanical Engineering,City University of Hong Kong,Hong Kong,China
2.Department of Mechanical Engineering,The University of Hong Kong,Hong Kong,China
3.Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,China
4.College of Physics,Sichuan University,Chengdu,China

Fan，Cuncai,Pan，Shuai,Hu，Xunxiang,et al. Mechanisms of helium irradiation blistering and surface deformation in tungsten[J]. Acta Materialia,2023,254.

Fan，Cuncai,Pan，Shuai,Hu，Xunxiang,He，Binbin,&Huang，Mingxin.(2023).Mechanisms of helium irradiation blistering and surface deformation in tungsten.Acta Materialia,254.

Fan，Cuncai,et al."Mechanisms of helium irradiation blistering and surface deformation in tungsten".Acta Materialia 254(2023).