3D lattice strain quantifiaction in neutron irradiated steels for fusion energy

Iron-chromium (FeCr) alloys are a top candidate for development as structural materials within Demonstrator fusion reactors. Examples of already developed materials are Eurofer97 (E97), F82H, Fe-14Cr-YWTi oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) alloys. In the latter, the addition of Y2O3 nanoparticles into these alloys improve their tensile and creep properties and show higher temperature resistance. Within a nuclear fusion reactor, first wall and tritium breeding blanket structural materials will undergo microstructural changes such as the formation of precipitates, voids, bubbles, and dislocation loops, caused by high energy neutrons produced during the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction. These microstructural changes produce changes in the lattice structure, generating localised strains within the lattice. Here we propose to use synchrotron 3D Bragg ptychography, to visualise these lattice strains and distributions of strains within neutron irradiated Fe-Cr based steels.