Characterization of He bubbles in irradiated Aluminium with high resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy

E.A. SANCHEZ; A. TOLLEY; D. RONDÓN BRITO

Congreso; Interamerican Microscopy Congress; 2020

Microscopy Society of America

Irradiation effects in metallic alloys has been an active area of research since a few decades ago, and is actually stimulated by the demand of developing materials that should withstand mechanical integrity at higher temperatures and higher irradiation doses for structural components of Generation IV fission reactors and for first wall components in fusion reactors [1].This work reports results of 20 keV He+ irradiations on high purity aluminium at room temperature. The aim of the experiments was to study the formation of nanometer sized bubbles that cause swelling and embrittlement, and the effects of blistering that results from coalescence of bubbles and leads to surface erosion by exfoliation. The irradiation experiments were carried out in a 120 kV ion accelerator at Centro Atómico Bariloche. A Tecnai F20 transmission electron microscope equipped with a Quantum ER system was used for post-irradiation characterization, combining High Resolution Imaging (HRTEM) and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS).