High-temperature damage evolution in 10 keV He+ irradiated W and W-5Re
Highlights: • High-temperature damage in pure W appeared strongly dependent upon foil thickness. • Visible bubbles occurred at above a threshold fluence of ~ 4.5×10{sup 19} He{sup +}/m{sup 2}. • Dislocations with b = ½ were identified and exhibited a wavy morphology. • The bypass of bubbles by dislocations operated through simple shear. • Rhenium gave rise to ~ 10-40% increase in bubble size and a pronounced change in bubble morphology. - Abstract: High-temperature damage evolution in pure W and W-5Re has been studied by combining transmission electron microscopy and in-situ irradiations with 10 keV He{sup +} ions. The irradiations covered a temperature range of T{sub irr} = 773–1473 K and a fluence range of (4.5–15) × 10{sup 19} He{sup +}/m{sup 2}. In pure W, detailed characterizations have shown that damage evolution is highly dependent upon the foil thickness. Regions of thickness irr from 773 K to 1473 K, a pronounced bubble growth and an increased degree of bubble ordering were observed. In thicker regions (≳100 nm), 1/2<111> dislocation loops and line entanglements were found up to 1473 K, and were often seen to be decorated with helium bubbles. In W-5Re, areas of different foil thickness exhibited only small differences in damage evolution. The densities of bubbles were comparable to those seen in pure W at all temperatures, while the average size of bubbles was found to be ~10–40% higher. The damage microstructure transformed from a mixture of dislocation loops and bubbles at 773 K to dislocation line entanglements decorated with bubbles at 1473 K.