A comparative TEM study of in-reactor and post-irradiation tensile tested copper

The deformation microstructures of oxygen-free high-conductivity (OFHC) copper were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) following in-reactor and post-irradiation slow strain rate tensile tests. The TEM results suggest that the main modes of deformation differ between all examined cases. Plastic deformation appeared predominantly localized in the defect-free cleared channels following post-irradiation testing and hardly any dislocations were seen outside the channels. The microstructures following in-reactor tests were characterized by a small amount of cleared channels and a distinct dislocation density within the matrix. However, the dislocations observed following in-reactor testing did not seem to interact with each other, whereas that was the main mode of deformation in the non-irradiated reference sample. The possible mechanisms of plastic deformation are discussed based on the experimental results.