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ESTEEM3 project - Sri Tapasvi Nori

Title: Nano Particle Characterization and Grain Orientation Mapping for Ion-irradiated Oxide Dispersion Strengthened-Concentrated Solid Solution Alloys

Abstract: The novel ODS-CSAs have the best potential as Gen. IV reactor structural materials due to nanostructures. However, the research is limited. Thus, the proposed ESTEEM3 experiments will comprehensively study the impact of nanostructures on the synergy of mechanical properties and high-temperature radiation resistance by examining and analyzing the nanostructures and their stability after irradiation at 580℃ and 700℃. The ODS-14YWT will also be studied for comparison. The oxide particles hinder dislocation (particle strengthening) and grain boundary movement by suppressing recrystallization and grain growth and act as sinks for irradiation-induced defects such as vacancies and interstitials. Hence, their characteristics such as stoichiometry, crystallography, size, and number density will be evaluated. The stoichiometry of the oxide particles (Y2Ti2O7 or Y2Hf2Otype) will determine the anticipated chemical stability following high-temperature irradiation. Crystallography will ascertain coherency and lattice misfit. The coherency, lattice misfit, size, and number density will influence the strengthening. The nanosized grains also strengthen via dense grain boundaries. Such effects are evident from high-hardness values measured for irradiated ODS-CSAs, comparable to or better than irradiated ODS-14YWT. The difference in hardness can be related to nanostructure characteristics. Irradiation can cause degradation via voids and dislocation loops, causing hardening, though it is limited. Grain boundaries also act as defect sinks; hence, grain sizes, orientations, and boundary parameters will be evaluated to determine the stability and sink strength. The other objectives of the research apart from ESTEEM3 experiments comprise examining the irradiation-induced defects such as voids and dislocation loops and their interaction with nanostructures and nanoindentation-induced dislocations.



This project has received funding from the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 857470 and from European Regional Development Fund
via Foundation for Polish Science International Research Agenda PLUS programme grant
No MAB PLUS/2018/8.
Poland
The project is co-financed from the state budget within the framework of the undertaking of the Minister of Science and Higher Education "Support for the activities of Centers of Excellence established under Horizon 2020".

Grant: 5 143 237,70 EUR
Total value: 29 971 365,00 EUR
Date of signing the funding agreement: December 2023

The purpose of the undertaking is to support entities of the higher education and science system that have received funding from the European Union budget in the competition H2020-WIDESPREAD-2018-2020/WIDESPREAD-01-2018-2019: Teaming Phase 2. in the preparation, implementation and updating of activities, maintenance of material resources necessary for carrying out activities, acquisition and modernization of scientific and research apparatus, maintenance and development of personnel potential necessary for the implementation of activities, and dissemination of the results of scientific activities.