Irradiation Effects on Additively Manufactured Metallic Alloys: Recent Progress and Future Perspectives

Additive manufacturing (AM) processes fabricate components from a three-dimensional model through the sequential layering of material. AM is an emerging manufacturing method that shortens production time, reduces material waste, rapidly creates one-off parts, and improves overall efficiency in the design and fabrication process. These benefits make AM appealing for use in many industries, including the nuclear energy field. While the potential of AM materials is attractive, an understanding of the irradiation behavior of these materials must be established, especially in comparison to conventionally manufactured materials currently in service. In AM alloy materials, repeated thermal cycles and highly ordered depositions create microstructures that deviate from those expected for conventionally manufactured components. Such characteristic microstructures include the development of subgrain cell structures, pores, and anisotropic grains; these features in turn affect the material properties and behavior under irradiation. While the number of irradiation studies in this area is limited, this review attempts to summarize the findings of these studies in a succinct manner and identify areas for future meaningful research.