Atomic force microscopy was used to study slip-band evolution in neutron-irradiated alloys which were deformed in tensile tests. Quantitative data were obtained on changes in the surface topography of dislocation channels, and on the kinetics of dislocation channel growth up to the ultimate tensile stress. As the stress approached the ultimate tensile strength, slip bands nucleated and propagated across the specimens. As the stress increased, the spacing between slip bands decreased and became constant. The slip-step height continued to increase, and showed that the growth of individual dislocation channels occurred continuously. Conjugated or multi-slip bands in a grain were rarely observed. The evolution of the dislocation channels could produce a marked loss in ductility, above the ultimate tensile stress.

Dislocation Channel Formation Process in V–Cr–Ti Alloys Irradiated below 300C. M.Sugiyama, K.Fukumoto, H.Matsui: Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2004, 329-333[1], 467-71