Irradiation temperature effects on the mechanical properties of precipitation-hardened copper alloys

Abstract Tensile properties have been determined on specimens of four precipitation-hardened copper alloys irradiated in the SM-2 reactor between 100 and 500°C ( φ ≈ 10 21 n/cm 2 ). The effect of the irradiation temperature on the mechanical properties of the alloys has shown that some strengthening occur at low-temperature irradiations (100–200°C). Irradiations at 400–500°C result in the decrease of alloy strength. Growth and coagulation of secondary dispersed phases, accompanied by a decrease in their density, are proposed to cause the observed reduction in strength.