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In situ studies on heavy ion irradiation and partial oxidation induced stacking faults and nanograins in tungsten nanolaminates

Wazeer, Adil [Purdue University]·Paul, Debargha [Purdue University]·Sheng, Xuanyu [Purdue University]·Shi, Lihao [Purdue University]·Liu, Yinghang [Purdue University]·Shang, Zhongxia [Purdue University]·Xia, Chang [Purdue University]·Singh, Vaibhav [Purdue University]·Chen, Wei-Ying [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)]·Gao, Fei [University of Michigan]·Xue, Yexiang [Purdue University]·Lin, Guang [Purdue University]·Seibert, Tim Graening [ORNL]·Yu, Xiao-Ying [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000298613109)·Wang, Haiyan [Purdue University]·Zhang, Xinghang [Purdue University]
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Abstract

Understanding the microstructural evolution of tungsten (W) under extreme irradiation environments is critical for its application as a plasma-facing material in future fusion reactors. Heavy ion irradiation study offers expedited damage accumulation and thus allows irradiation tolerance property prediction in a short period of time. In this study we explore in situ Kr ion irradiation of W nanolaminates at 800 °C and uncover a complex interplay of irradiation-induced transformations, including the emergence of stacking faults, nanograin formation, and generation of thickened grain boundaries defined as GB regions with the thickness of up to 15 nm. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy studies reveal the formation of extended planar faults and a metastable hexagonal close-packed (hcp) phase within the body-centered cubic (bcc) matrix. These structural transitions are facilitated by irradiation-induced shear. They are further stabilized by the presence of oxygen, which promotes stacking fault formation and vacancy trapping. Elevated temperatures enhance defect mobility, enabling dynamic recrystallization into ultrafine grains and the thickening of GBs due to defect absorption and impurity segregation. These findings unravel non-equilibrium phase transformation pathways in heavy ion irradiated W and highlight the critical role of impurity-mediated defect dynamics in governing its radiation tolerance properties.

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Wazeer, Adil [Purdue University], Paul, Debargha [Purdue University], Sheng, Xuanyu [Purdue University], Shi, Lihao [Purdue University], Liu, Yinghang [Purdue University], Shang, Zhongxia [Purdue University], Xia, Chang [Purdue University], Singh, Vaibhav [Purdue University], Chen, Wei-Ying [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)], Gao, Fei [University of Michigan], Xue, Yexiang [Purdue University], Lin, Guang [Purdue University], Seibert, Tim Graening [ORNL], Yu, Xiao-Ying [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000298613109), Wang, Haiyan [Purdue University], Zhang, Xinghang [Purdue University]. 2026-09-01. In situ studies on heavy ion irradiation and partial oxidation induced stacking faults and nanograins in tungsten nanolaminates. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mattod.2026.103494

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