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We have probed void evolution in polycrystalline W and W-5wt.%Ta material at 800 and 1000 °C, by transmission electron microscopy during in-situ irradiation with a 40 keV proton beam. The presence of radiation-induced dislocation loops was not observed prior to void formation at those elevated temperatures. The damaged W microstructure was characterised by the presence of a population of randomly distributed voids, whose number density reduces when the irradiation temperature increases. Soft impingement of voids becomes noticeable at damage levels ≥0.2 dpa. In contrast, the excess of free vacancies in the W-5wt.%Ta material irradiated at 800 °C only leads to the formation of visible voids in this TEM study (≥2 nm) after post-irradiation annealing of the sample at 1000 °C. Solute Ta atoms also cause a significant increase in the number density of voids when comparing the microstructure of both materials irradiated at 1000 °C, and a gradual progression towards saturation in average void size at ≥0.2 dpa. Moreover, we have detected a progressive transition from a spherical to a faceted shape in a number of voids present in both materials at damage levels ≥0.3 dpa.
Original languageEnglish
Article number151730
JournalJournal of Nuclear Materials
Volume526
Early online date8 Aug 2019
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2019

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