Atomic Defects in Metals · RE

This chapter discusses self-interstitial atom (SIA) and vacancy reactions of La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu hexagonal rare-earth metals after low temperature electron-irradiation for the hexagonal phases of these rare-earth elements in order to arrive at a systematic understanding of defect parameters in hcp metals. For all lanthanides the details of the annealing curves, such as a dose dependent annealing stage I_E, might be affected by the low purity of the samples characterized by the RRR. The solubility of H is a major problem for some lanthanides that leads to large “thermal cycling effects” and affects the annealing results. The properties of these hexagonal rare earth elements are tabulated. Isochronal annealing of the electrical resistivity Δρ /Δρ₀, and differential recovery after low temperature electron-irradiation, fast neutron irradiation are illustrated.