Large scale molecular dynamics computer simulations were used to study the role of the grain boundary during the cascade evolution in irradiated nanocrystalline Ni. At all primary knock-on atom energies in cascades near grain boundaries, the damage produced after cooling down was vacancy-dominated. Truncated stacking fault tetrahedra were easily formed at 10keV and higher primary knock-on atom energies. At the higher energies a complex partial dislocation network formed, consisting of truncated stacking fault tetrahedra. The grain boundary acted as an interstitial sink without undergoing major structural changes.

Stacking Fault Tetrahedra Formation in the Neighbourhood of Grain Boundaries. M.Samaras, P.M.Derlet, H.Van Swygenhoven, M.Victoria: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 2003, 202, 51-5