An investigation of irradiation creep in ferritic alloys in the Oak Ridge Research Reactor at 60 to 400 degree C

Irradiation creep has been shown to have a weak temperature dependence for temperatures above 350{degree}C. Interest in irradiation creep at low temperatures has arisen in the design of experimental fusion reactors such as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. The first wall of this device is expected to operate at temperatures of 60 to 350{degree}C and to sustain damage levels of 10 to 30 displacements per atom (dpa). Irradiation creep has previously been identified at temperatures as low as {minus}195{degree}C, but the phenomenon was thought to be a transient of short duration. The present experiment addresses the temperature regime of 60 to 400{degree}C at atomic displacement levels of 7 to 8 dpa.