Acquisition of a Modified Suction Casting Instrument for the Fabrication of Radiation Tolerant Bulk nNanostructured Metallic Materials.

摘要

This is the final progress report. The objective of this project is to acquire an instrument that enables the fabrication of bulk nanostructured metallic materials via a modified suction casting technique. The ultimate goal is to provide a platform that supports the design and fabrication of nanostructured metallic materials that have superior radiation tolerance. Specifically we will use the instrument to fabricate 1) multiphase bulk nanostructured metallic materials with high strength and ductility, and high temperature thermal stability; 2) nanoscale oxides dispersion strengthened (ODS) alloys. The major technical accomplishments achieved during this project include the followings. First, we acquired an Edmund Buhler s Arc Melter Type AM machine with suction casting capability. The instrument is capable of melting a variety of high melting temperature metallic materials (up to 3,500oC), and perform rapid solidification via suction casting techniques. Second, we used this instrument to fabricate several bulk nanostructured metallic materials. In particular we fabricated bulk nanostructured Fe-Zr alloys via suction casting technique. The as-cast FeZr alloys have nanolaminates, and have extraordinary high temperature thermal stability. Finally we performed in situ radiation studies on the as-cast FeZr alloys have observed excellent radiation resistance in this nanostructured alloys.