Fe-15Cr-XNi alloys irradiated at both low (0.66 to 1.2) and very high (27 to 58) helium/dpa levels exhibit significantly different levels of strengthening due to an unprecedented refinement of cavity microstructure at the very high helium levels. When compounded with the nickel dependence of helium generation, the cavity distribution for some irradiation conditions and alloy compositions can be driven below the critical radius for bubble-to-void conversion, leading to a delay in swelling. The critical radius also appears to be dependent on the nickel level. The refinement may not have resulted from the high helium levels alone, however but also may have been influenced by differences in displacement rate and temperature history in the two experiments.

Tensile testing on three model Fe-Cr-Ni alloys removed from four discharges of the 59Ni isotopic doping experiment in FFTF-MOTA indicates that helium/dpa ratios typical of fusion reactors do not produce changes in the yield strength or elongation that are significantly different from those at much lower helium generation rates. It also appears that tensile properties approach a saturation level that is dependent only on the final irradiation temperature, but not prior temperature history or thermomechanical starting condition. The saturation in mechanical properties reflects a similar saturation in microstructure that is independent of starting condition. The successful conduct of an isotopic doping experiment was found to require post-irradiation measurement of the helium levels in order to compensate for uncertainties in the cross sections for burn-out and burn-in of 59Ni and for uncertainties in neutron flux and spectra in the vicinity of the edge of the core.

The objective of this effort is to study the separate and synergistic effects of helium and other important variables on the evolution of microstructure and macroscopic properties during irradiation of structural metals. The alloys employed in this study were nominally Fe-15Cr-25Ni, Fe-15Cr-25Ni-0.04P and Fe-15Cr-45Ni (wt %) in both the cold worked and annealed conditions. Tensile testing and microscopy continue on specimens removed from the first, second and third discharges of the 59Ni isotopic doping experiment. The results to date indicate that helium/dpa ratios typical of fusion reactors (4 to 19 appm/dpa) do not lead to significant changes in the yield strength of model Fe-Cr-Ni alloys. Measurements of helium generated in undoped specimens from the second and third discharges show that the helium/dpa ratio increases during irradiation in FFTF due to the production of 59Ni. In specimens doped with 59Ni prior to irradiation, the helium/dpa ratio can increase, decrease or remain the same during the second irradiation interval. This behavior occurs because the cross sections for the production and burnout of 59Ni are very sensitive to core location and the nature of neighboring components. 14 refs., 5 figs., 3 tabs.