SANS study of the nanosized features in oxide dispersion strengthened alloys

The development of new materials with improved performance is necessary to achieve the worldwide aim of sustainable growth. Nuclear fusion is one of the most promising options to cope with the increase in global energy demand from non-fossil energy sources. The energy, i.e. the electricity, is generated under extreme conditions inside of these reactors. Thus, the structural materials that sustain the reactor play a major role in the viability of fusion energy power. ODS RAF steels are among the most advanced materials for structural systems and in nuclear devices. They are currently investigated as improved structural material candidates for nuclear fusion reactors. These materials exhibit high resistance to deformation and to neutron radiation at very elevated temperatures. Thus, the aim of my work is to investigate two ODS RAF steels with nominal composition Fe–14Cr–2W–0.4Ti-0.3Y2O3 and Fe–14Cr–2W–0.3Zr-0.24Y (wt. %). We will obtain a multidisciplinary analysis of the steel under study by means of different characterization techniques. First, we focus on the microstructure characterization by electron microscopy techniques; second, we link the mechanical response of the material to the microstructure characterization; and third, we use advance techniques of characterization for a more detailed analysis as X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy and Small-Angle Neutron Scattering.

实现全球可持续发展目标，亟需开发性能更优异的新型材料。核聚变是应对非化石能源领域全球能源需求增长的最具潜力的方案之一。这类反应堆内部会在极端工况下产生电能，因此承受反应堆载荷的结构材料对聚变能源发电的可行性起着至关重要的作用。氧化物弥散强化低活化铁素体/马氏体钢（ODS RAF steels）是用于核装置及结构系统的最先进材料之一，目前正被研究作为核聚变反应堆的候选改进型结构材料。这类材料在极高温度下仍具备优异的抗变形能力与抗中子辐射性能。因此，本研究的目标是对两种标称成分（质量百分比）分别为Fe–14Cr–2W–0.4Ti-0.3Y₂O₃与Fe–14Cr–2W–0.3Zr-0.24Y的ODS RAF钢开展研究。本研究将通过多种表征技术对目标钢材开展多学科分析：其一，借助电子显微技术开展微观结构表征；其二，将材料的力学响应与微观结构表征结果相关联；其三，采用X射线吸收光谱（X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy）与小角中子散射（Small-Angle Neutron Scattering）等先进表征技术开展更细致的分析。