Microstructure and tensile properties of neutron irradiated Cu and Cu5Ni containing isotopically controlled boron

Cu and Cu5Ni dopwe with either natural boron (20%¹⁰B) or isotopically enriched boron (91%¹⁰B) were irradiated in FFTF/MOTA at 646 K to 6.3 dpa and 683 K to 4.9 dpa. The He/dpa ratio varied from 0.1 to 224. The dependence of irradiation-induced microstructures and mechanical properties (yield stress change and uniform elongation) on the helium level was examined. In pure Cu, the void size distribution changed from unimodal to bimodal with the increase of He/dpa ratio. The swelling peak occured at a He/dpa ratio of 5 to 10. In Cu5Ni, the swelling rapidly decreased with He/dpa ratio. The yield stress change was well correlated with microstructural-based calculations describing contributions to hardening by voids and dislocations. Cavity formation and growth at grain boundaries resulted in enhanced grain boundary fracture and significant loss of elongation in the case of high He/dpa ratio. This effect, however, was small at fusion-relevant He/dpa ratio.