Molecular dynamics simulation of atomic displacement cascades in Fe-9 at % Cr and Fe-9 at % Cr-0.1 at % C alloys

The atomic displacement cascades in Fe-9 at % Cr and Fe-9 at % Cr-0.1 at % C alloys are studied by molecular dynamics simulation at an initial temperature of 600 K. The average fractions of defects that “survive” in a displacement cascade are calculated for primary knocked-on atom (PKA) energies of 0.1–20 keV, and the number and size of the vacancy and interstitial-atom clusters that form in a displacement cascade are determined. Carbon at the concentration under study is found not to affect the number of survived defects and the cascade efficiency. At PKA energies of 15 and 20 keV, the presence of carbon slightly decreases the fraction of point defects forming clusters.