Neutron studies of the V-4Ti-4Cr alloy

Competitive economic indicators for fast-neuron power reactors can be achieved with high coefficients of fuel burnout, which requires remarkable enhancement of radiation resistance of fuel pin claddings. Nowadays, low-activation vanadium alloys are projected as promising fuel cladding materials in view of their high radiation and thermal resistance in wide temperature and damage dose ranges. Neutron diffraction and small-angle neutron scattering are employed to study the microstructure of the V-4Ti-4Cr alloy subjected to irradiation with fast neutrons in the fluence range up to 1·1020 cm−2. Minor phases precipitated in the system are structurally characterized. The applicability and prospects of neutron diffraction methods in terms of studying the radiation behavior of this kind of alloys are shown.