Effect of electron irradiation on creep and dislocation structure of aluminium

The effect of electron irradiation and strain on structure of technical-purity aluminium subjected to constant-load tensile creep tests was investigated. The dislocation structure was statistically analyzed. The effect of electron irradiation appears in the creep rate reduction and generation of radiation defect clusters, the density of which is approximately proportional to the dose. The effect on the dislocation distribution is dependent on the dose as well. Doses1·2×10¹⁷ cm^–2 speed up the formation of a polygonal structure characterizing the steady-state creep.