Effect of heterogeneous distributed intermetallic precipitates on accumulation of vacancy-like defects in irradiated Fe-Ni-based alloys studied by positron annihilation

The effect of heterogeneous distributed intermetallic particles on interaction of point defects with dislocations in cold-worked Fe-Ni-based alloys during electron irradiation was studied by positron annihilation. It was shown that vacancy accumulation occurs in cold-worked alloys during irradiation in spite of high dislocation density. It is caused by the presence of areas with lower dislocation density in alloys. At room temperature, the vacancies are not trapped by dislocations totally because a low their mobility. At elevated temperatures, vacancies may leave dislocations and form VCs. In cold-worked Fe-Ni-Ti alloy the accumulation of defects during irradiation is essentially lowered in comparison with cold worked Fe-Ni alloy. Ni₃Ti precipitates, which are present on dislocations, reduce the efficiency of interaction of dislocations with interstitial atoms and, thereby, enhance the mutual recombination of point defects.