Neutron diffraction studies of carbide precipitate forming in the 0.04C–4Cr–18Mn–2V steel under thermal aging and fast-neutron irradiation

Aging austenitic steels are characterized by a complex microstructure and various defects and precipitates, which largely determine the properties of steels. The formation and evolution of a system of defects in these materials are accompanied by changes in the Bragg and diffuse neutron scattering spectra. This makes neutron diffraction methods an effective means of studying them. This paper analyzes the results of our neutron diffraction experiments studying the changes in the crystal structure and a system of carbide precipitates in the 0.4C-4Cr-18Mn-2V austenitic manganese steel, which develop in the material under thermal aging and irradiation by fast neutron fluxes. Differences occurring under these effects are revealed. The results of the analysis are in good agreement with the electron microscopic data and supplement them in terms of studying irradiated samples.