Kinetics of void-lattice formation in metals
K. KRISHAN
Reactor Research Centre, Kalpakkam 603 102, Tamil Nadu, India
Since the discovery1 that voids form in neutron-irradiated stainless steel and that these could form into a three-dimensional lattice2, void-lattices have been observed in some b.c.c. metals2,3 such as Mo, W, Nb, and Ta, and in f.c.c. metals4,5 such as Al and Ni. The irradiation conditions in which a void-lattice is formed are not understood6, but several explanations7−11 of the stability of the void-lattice have been given on the basis of void−void elastic interaction9−11. Our present approach regards the void-lattice formation as a phase transition associated with the bifurcation of the homogeneous steady state in the mean field theory12,13. The void-lattice is an interesting example of a class of phase transitions manifested by open, nonequilibrium, dis-sipative structures and have an inherent capability of self-organization. Although void-lattice formation has already been examined on this basis14,15, we show here that the transition is induced in certain microstructural conditions where vacancy loop dynamics has an important role. The theory generally agrees with experimental features and predicts that another spatially dependent state exists which can influence irradiation-induced phenomena that have important technological implications for the development of fast reactor materials.
Crystallography is actually sort of exciting. I wish I spoke math, but i only speak a sort of pidgin geometric babble. Turbine blades and star-sails and Ice-9 and snowfall, snowfall. The void made form, within beauty and lending the strength of nothingness to the weightless arms and flying horses of the far future far past golden rulers of Earth-In-Time!
ReplyDeleteMore coffee, and then -