Effect of 2MeV Proton Radiation on the Microstructure in Zircaloy 4

2MeV proton radiation was performed at 350℃ at damage levels of 2, 5 and 7 displacement per atom. The resulted samples were investigated by the transmission electron microscopy. In the as-received samples, we observe precipitates of the commonly reported hexagonal close-packed Zr (Cr, Fe)₂, and a face-centered cubic alloy containing Zr and Fe, respectively. After radiation to 2dpa, 5dpa and 7dpa, dislocation loop are observed at a density of 7×10²¹ m^-3, 8×10²¹ m^-3 and 15×10²¹ m^-3, respectively. The corresponding loop size are 7nm、 11nm and 11nm, respectively. No amorphization happens for all precipitates.