LAUSR

Abstract The Hastelloy N alloy were irradiated by He ions, Xe ions and Xe + He ions at 650 °C and examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nano-indentation. TEM results showed the formation of irradiation induced helium bubbles, dislocation loops and precipitates in the irradiated samples. The mean size, number density and their variations of these defects at the peak damage regions were measured through TEM micrographs. The interactions between different types of irradiation induced defects were investigated and the mechanisms behind them have been revealed in this study. In addition, the nanoindentation test showed the irradiation induced hardening in all the irradiated samples. The measured nanohardness increment (ΔH) for sample irradiated by Xe + He ions was larger than that of the combined single ion irradiation case, indicating the presence of synergistic effect in the hardening of the both ions irradiated sample.