Comparison of Neutron Radiation Response of Conventionally Wrought Versus Additive Manufacturing Production Methods in Alloy 625

Abstract

A point of study in the characterization of additive manufactured (AM) alloys is whether or not AM microstructure responds to external stimuli differently from conventionally manufactured alloys. Samples of Alloy 625, a nickel-based superalloy of interest, were produced by both additive manufacturing and conventional wrought methods. Samples of differing sizes were subjected to one of two different types of neutron fields during irradiation: fast neutron or reactor-spectrum neutron. Vickers microhardness measurements and transmission electron microscope images were used to analyze the differences between samples before and after they were subjected to the neutron fields. Results showed differing responses between the two fabrication methods.

Keywords:

• Neutron irradiation
• material characterization
• radiation hardening
• nuclear-relevant alloys
• additive manufacturing

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy under award number [DE-NE0008865].