Self-organization of a nanocrystalline structure in transition-metal alloys under the action of temperature and irradiation as a basis for designing radiation-resistant structural materials for nuclear reactors

The effect of lattice distortions on the radiation resistance of neutron-irradiated steels and alloys is studied. The enhancement of vacancy and interstitial atom recombination is found to be maximal when lattice distortions appear upon the ordering of transition-metal alloys. The formation of a short-range order creates dynamic equilibrium between the numbers of nucleating and recombining point defects. This process of self-organization of the structure of irradiated alloys provides stable recombination of vacancies and interstitial atoms and high radiation resistance of structural materials.