Polarised SANS study of microstructural evolution under neutron irradiation in a martensitic steel for fusion reactors

This work presents the results of polarised small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements of modified martensitic steel DIN1.4914, originally developed for application in future fusion reactors (MANET steel). SANS measurements were made using the D22 instrument at the ILL Grenoble using an ad hoc polarised beam set-up. The investigated MANET samples were neutron irradiated and subsequently post-irradiation tempered to reproduce as much as possible the expected service conditions. The results, based on the analysis of the nuclear-magnetic interference, are discussed taking into account both the occurrence of Cr redistribution phenomena with correlated changes in the composition of the precipitate phases, and the growth of non-magnetic defects (He-bubbles or microvoids).