Ion Irradiation Defects and Hardening in FeCrAl Alloy
, Daxi Guo 3, Liping Guo 1,*, Wenbin Lin 1, Yiheng Chen 1, Lei Li 3, Qisen Ren 3 and Yehong Liao 3
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Authors studied the irradiation effect on FeCrAl and Y-FeCrAl alloys. The Irradiation experiment and analysis seem OK and results are well presented. Still, the following issues need improvement for the publication.
- The explanation and interpretation of Fig. 6 (bottom of page 7) seem not consistent with the results in Fig. 6. Please check and correct the discrepancy.
- The notation for Y-FeCrAl in text is not consistent with FeCrAl(Y) in the figures.
- In Sec.4.1 (page 10), "Therefore, the dislocation loop density expected to reach saturation before 2.5 dpa at the higher irradiation temperature of 330°C." => This is not the case for authors; results (Fig. 6). Please explain why.
- In Sec. 4.2, the effect of dose rate was briefly mentioned using others' results though authors used a single dose rate. It seems not proper to discuss the dose rate effect with a single test result.
- In Sec. 4.2 (bottom page 10), "...but the number density of a/2 < 111 > dislocation loop was higher than that of a < 100 > dislocation loop [29]." => This seems different from authors' results (Fig. 6). Please explain and discuss.
- In Sec. 4.2 (page 11), "This is probably due to the difference in aluminium content, as the aluminum content in the mini mum Cr alloy is the highest, and the lowest in the highest Cr model." => What is the intention of this statement?
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors report the results from ion irradiation experiments on FeCrAl alloys. The most serious problem with the paper is that all references to the figures and tables were lost. Instead the text "Error! Reference source not found." appears whenever a figure/table is mentioned. This make it very hard to read, especially the Discussion section.
Generally, I think the presented data and findings are alright, but because of the previous observations and the ones listed below the manuscript is a bit hard to read in its present form.
Language needs improvement. Some sentences are a bit hard to follow. The article 'the' is missing on several occasions. I will list a few issues:
Abstract, line 16-17, suggestion: When the dose was increased..
Intro, line 25-26 I don't understand the sub-sentence. Try splitting it. What is accident high temperature? Rephrase.
line 39: The a<100> dislocation loop... ...compared with the a/2<111>....
Experimental, line 86. Is 'corrosion' really the correct word in: "After polishing and corrosion...."?
line 93-94: .....where the displacement energy of the Fe atom...
line 102: ...3.2 MeV Fe ions.....
l. 113: ....was estimated by the convergent electron....
table 2 strange caption: "The value |g.b| under the using different g.... Rephrase!
l. 126, suggestions: ....dislocation loops that can be observed....
l. 126: ... density of the loop.
The labels on the axes in Figs.2&3 are way too small. In print they can't be read!
l. 152: Figs.2 and 3 show the.... (nB I'm guessing the figures as the references in the text are obscure)
l. 154: .....loop defects, but no cavities....
l. 176 incomprehensible sentence: 'The is similar with....' What is similar to the size distribution?? Rephrase!
l. 220 is Delta H0 really shown??? I see only H0 in the figures. Clarify!
Discussion l. 246, suggestion: When 5 MeV Fe2+ ions......
l. 252, suggestion: ....loop density is expected to....
l. 260: ....the same trend as in [11]....
l. 273, you can't say "are easier to migrate". Perhaps: migrate more easily.
Occurs also on l. 288 and 289.
l. 275 coalescene -> coalesce?
l. 302: ....that a cascade overlap....
l. 311 Fe2+ -> Fe2+
l. 370: strength factor and takes the following values: 0<....
l. 370: As the a<100>....
Conclusions l.415: The a<100> loop has....
l.416-417 does not form a complete sentence. Is it a sub-sentence to the previous one or? Rephrase!
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
The topic of the article is very interesting and in line with the goals and scope of the journal. However, I suggest a revision of the article in light of the comments that follow.
1. Although the objectives are well defined at the end of the introduction, the research questions that the results of this paper are intended to answer are not stated. The authors need to clearly state how the contribution of this work differs from work that has already been done in this area. The introduction should be strengthened with some hypotheses, main conclusions, and scientific contributions related to other studies in the field.
2. Starting from line 78, the following error "Error! Reference source not found" is displayed. Check the reference to figures and tables. The figures and tables in the manuscript are not mentioned in the text.
3. Line 94 mentions a damage whose development is shown in Figure 1. Define the nature of this damage and its effects and consequences.
4. Figures 2 and 3 should be enlarged and the respective resolution increased. The magnification scale used must also be indicated in each figure.
5. Sub-figures must be added to Figures 4 and 5, and the information associated with these sub-figures must be included in the respective caption.
6. Each sub-figure of Figure 6 must be described in the figure caption.
7. Conclusions should be updated with current work limitations and future improvements.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors are presented by attached Word file.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
After analyzing the revised version of the article " Ion irradiation defects and hardening in FeCrAl alloy", it can be stated that the authors have significantly improved the article. In this sense, I believe that the article in the revised version meets the necessary requirements to be published in the journal Metals.
Sincerely,
