Development of Electrical Resistivity Measurement Systems for Inspecting Void Swelling in Irradiated Microscopy Discs

Results are presented of resistivity change measurements made on a model Fe-Cr-Ni-Ti-C austenitic alloy irradiated in the Fast Flux Test Facility to doses ranging from 1.87 to 67.8 dpa. Two different electrical resistivity measurement systems were developed to overcome problems associated with examination of small microscopy specimens in order to investigate small changes in resistivity arising from voids and other radiation-induced microstructural features. A correlation is shown between resistivity changes arising primarily from void swelling. However, contributions arising probably from radiation-induced redistribution and perhaps precipitation of carbon and titanium can dominate the resistivity at low dpa levels.Copyright © 2010 by ASME