Correlation of microstructural evolution in V-4Cr-4Ti by heavy ion and neutron irradiations

The evolution of interstitial dislocation loops in V-4Cr-4Ti during heavy ion and neutron irradiation was investigated in comparison with that during electron irradiation at temperature ranging from 407K to 673 K. Temperature and damage rate dependence of the loop number density by heavy ion and neutron irradiations agreed well with those by electron irradiation obeying Sink and Recombination Dominant kinetics at low and high temperature, respectively. Heavy ion and neutron irradiations induced higher loop number density than that of electron irradiation at 563 - 673 K. The difference may be attributed to cascade-enhanced vacancy loop formation.