In-situ TEM investigation on the evolution of He bubbles and dislocation loops in Ni-based alloy irradiated by H2+ & He<…

The synergistic evolution mechanisms of He bubbles and dislocation loops under 30 keV H2+ & He+ dual-beam ions irradiation at 650 °C in the Ni-based alloy GH3535, which is the most promising candidate structure material for molten salt reactors (MSRs), were revealed via in-situ TEM. The nucleation, merging, and change in the size of the dislocation loops and He bubbles were characterized in detail to study the influences of irradiation fluence and pre-existing dislocation loops on their evolutions. The number density of both the He bubbles and dislocation loops increases rapidly and subsequently saturates, whereas their size continuously increases with the increasing ion fluence. Pre-existing dislocation loops with strong absorption characteristics grow preferentially and suppress the nucleation of dislocation loops during the dual-beam ions irradiation. Moreover, the bubbles tend to nucleate within the dislocation loops to form bubble-loop complexes, and then decrease in their number density. The details of the unfaulting processes of the Frank loops were discussed, where the energy difference between the two types of loops as well as the evolution of the inside Shockley dislocation loops dominates the unfaulting behavior. The several evolution stages of the loop-punching mechanism are revealed, and the emitted loops can directly form perfect loops as well as unfault the neighboring Frank loops. The He bubbles inside the loops provide corresponding stress for the formation of rhombic loops, which can achieve rapid growth and sweep ability by merging with the neighboring loops. Additionally, its dissociation to Shockley dislocation can unfault the Frank loops along their slip direction. Among the four Frank loop variations, the edge-on Frank loop variations have the highest growth rate, followed by the perfect loop. The related mechanisms based on in-situ experimental observation are discussed in depth.