Changes in bulk composition are known to affect both radiation-induced segregation and microstructural development, including void swelling in austenitic stainless steel. In this work, three alloys (designations corresponding to wt%) have been studied: Fe-18Cr-SNi alloy (bulk composition corresponding to 304 stainless steel), Fe- 18Cr-40Ni (bulk composition corresponding to 330 stainless steel), and Fe-16Cr-l3Ni (bulk composition corresponding to 316 stainless steel). Following irradiation with high-energy protons, the change in hardness and microstructure (void size distribution and grain boundary composition) due to irradiation was investigated. Increasing the bulk nickel concentration decreases void swelling, increases matrix hardening, and increases grain boundary chromium depletion and nickel enrichment. The analysis shows that decreases in lattice parameter and shear modulus due to radiation-induced segregation (RIS) correlate with decreased void swelling and a decreased susceptibility to irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC). Traditional thinking on IASCC assumed RIS was a contributing factor to cracking. It may, however, be that properly controlled RIS can be used to mitigating cracking.
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