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Austenitic stainless steels are commonly used in nuclear reactors and have been considered as potential structural materials in fusion reactors due to their excellent corrosion resistance, good creep and fatigue resistance at elevated temperatures, but their relatively low yield strength and poor radiation tolerance hinder their applications in high dose radiation environments. High angle grain boundaries have long been postulated as sinks for radiation-induced defects, such as bubbles, voids, and dislocation loops. Here we provide experimental evidence that high angle grain boundaries can effectively remove radiation-induced defects. The equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) technique was used to produce ultrafine grained Fe-Cr-Ni alloy. Mechanical properties of the alloy were studied at elevated temperature by tensile tests and in situ neutron scattering measurements. Enhanced dynamic recovery process at elevated temperature due to dislocation climb lowers the strain hardening rate and ductility of ultrafine grained Fe-Cr-Ni alloy. Thermal stability of the ultrafine grained Fe-Cr-Ni alloy was examined by ex situ annealing and in situ heating within a transmission electron microscope. Abnormal grain growth at 827 K (600°C) is attributed to deformation-induced martensite, located at the triple junctions of grains. Helium ion irradiation studies on Fe-Cr-Ni alloy show that the density of He bubbles, dislocation loops, as well as irradiation hardening are reduced by grain refinement. In addition, we provide direct evidence, via in situ Kr ion irradiation within a transmission electron microscope, that high angle grain boundaries in nanocrystalline Ni can effectively absorb irradiation-induced dislocation loops and segments. The density and size of dislocation loops in irradiated nanocrystalline Ni were merely half of those in irradiated coarse grained Ni. The results imply that irradiation tolerance in bulk metals can be effectively enhanced by microstructure refinement.

La synthèse par métallurgie des poudres de nickel à grains ultrafins (UFG) a été effectuée, et l’effet de l’affinement de la microstructure sur le comportement mécanique et les propriétés physiques a été étudié. La possibilité de coupler le broyage et le frittage flash est étudiée avec des résultats prometteurs. Des échantillons de haute densité avec des tailles de grains d = 0.65 – 4 µm, caractérisés par une fraction élevée des joints de grains Σ3 et un faible niveau de contrainte ont été synthétisés. Les propriétés mécaniques des échantillons UFG montrent une bonne combinaison ductilité-résistance mécanique, avec un impact mineur des porosités présentes. L’étude de l’influence de la taille de grain dans le régime UFG sur les propriétés mécaniques montre une limite d’élasticité supérieure à celle attendue et une capacité d’écrouissage plus faible. Ces observations sont cohérentes avec la microstructure déformée à rupture, étudiée par diffraction d’électrons rétrodiffusés et microscopie électronique en transmission. Une haute diffusivité, mesurée par des expériences de traceurs radioactifs, montrent des profils de pénétration très différents liés aux structures de porosités diverses présents dans les échantillons. Ces différentes structures sont aussi responsables de la densification rétrograde observée, uniquement pour les échantillons frittés à partir de poudres broyées. / The present manuscript concerns the synthesis of ultrafine grained (UFG) Ni by powder metallurgy, and the study of the influence of UFG microstructures on the mechanical behavior and physical properties. The possibilities of coupling ball milling and Spark Plasma Sintering are presented showing promising results. Highly dense homogeneous specimens are obtained, with average grain sizes d = 0.65 - 4 µm, and microstructures highlighted by a high fraction of Σ3 grain boundaries dependent on grain size. The mechanical properties in tensile testing for UFG samples are evaluated showing a good combination of strength and ductility, with little impact from porosities, the major drawback of powder metallurgy. The influence of grain size in the UFG regime on the mechanical properties is investigated, showing strength values that deviate from the expected behavior for grain refinement. Likewise, a reduced strain hardening capacity is depicted which correlates to the microstructural observations performed on the deformed state. High diffusivity measured by means of radiotracer experiments is observed in the sintered samples, displaying different penetration profiles that relate to diverse porosity structures. Such structures are also responsible for retrograde sintering observed exclusively in samples processed from BM powders.