The effect of minor constituents on swelling in stainless steel

The small quantities of solute interstitial elements in stainless steel (C, N and possibly Si) reduce the swelling under neutron irradiation ($\text{～ 2 × 10}{}^{22}\text{neutrons/cm}{}^2$) by more than an order of magnitude between 500 and 600° C over high purity material. The solute interstitials reduce both the numbers and sizes of irradiation-caused voids. Current swelling models ignore — of necessity — this gross effect. Several possible mechanisms are suggested to account for the effect.