Understanding radiation damage in FeCr Alloys

We review the experimental evidence of the non-monotonic behaviour of FeCr alloys versus Cr content, particularly under irradiation (ordering versus segregation tendencies, microstructure and phase evolution, …), together with the theoretical efforts done at the electronic and atomic level to interpret them. We also present some of the experimental and modelling results on FeCr produced at SCK•CEN in collaboration with other laboratories. In particular, we summarize how the use of ab initio calculations and interatomic potentials developed for this system allows model experiment results for the same system to be rationalised. Finally, we advance some opinions regarding some points that deserve further investigation in order to fully understand this important binary alloy, at the basis of the steels for current and future nuclear applications.