Irradiation hardening reduces which property in stainless steels?

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Multiple Choice

Irradiation hardening reduces which property in stainless steels?

Explanation:
Irradiation hardening occurs when defects created by neutron irradiation impede the movement of dislocations in stainless steel. This makes the material stronger and harder, but shatters its ability to deform plastically. In other words, the ductility—the capacity to undergo substantial plastic elongation before fracture—decreases. So the property reduced by irradiation hardening is ductility. Tensile strength and hardness actually tend to increase under irradiation, while changes in thermal conductivity can occur but are not the hallmark of irradiation hardening.

Irradiation hardening occurs when defects created by neutron irradiation impede the movement of dislocations in stainless steel. This makes the material stronger and harder, but shatters its ability to deform plastically. In other words, the ductility—the capacity to undergo substantial plastic elongation before fracture—decreases. So the property reduced by irradiation hardening is ductility. Tensile strength and hardness actually tend to increase under irradiation, while changes in thermal conductivity can occur but are not the hallmark of irradiation hardening.

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