Nano-Oxide Dispersion-Strengthened Steels

Abstract This chapter summarizes the status of developing advanced, high-performance iron-based alloys that contain an ultrahigh density of dispersion strengthening, nm-scale oxides. We describe the outstanding characteristics of these nano-oxide dispersion-strengthened (NODS) steels, including high strength up to elevated temperature, remarkable thermal stability, and irradiation tolerance, including in He-rich environments. Following a few remarks about their history, we review the challenging powder metallurgy and thermomechanical processing-fabrication paths for NODS steels and components. We then describe, in some detail, the character of performance enabling nm-scale oxides, and how they provide many outstanding mechanical properties, thermal stability, irradiation tolerance, and their ability to manage huge quantities of otherwise highly damaging helium. Following a brief overview of modeling pertinent to NODS steels and their performance, outstanding challenges and their future prospects are briefly discussed.