The Effect Of Ion Irradiation On Structure Property Of Zr-based Amorphous Alloy

Amorphous alloy also called metallic glasses is an new alloy which is made byrapid solidification technology. Due to the absence of long range atomic order,Amorphous alloy get unique physical and chemical properties and is widespreadapplied in industry, medicine, and aviation. Recently, due to internationaldevelopment trend and domestic energy demand, nuclear power become the directionof development of energy. Because of excellent physical, chemical, and mechanicalproperties, amorphous alloys may be used as candidate material.The structure material is under neutron irradiation for a long time when thereactor is working, which is the key factor for the material damage. The irradiationresistance of material is sensitive to the safety and life of rector. As an new material,the irradiation effect of amorphous alloys is not enough. Moreover, the research ofmaterial irradiation has been widely accepted by ion irradiation simulation of theneutron irradiation.In the paper, Zr50.7Al12.3Cu28Ni9amorphous alloy is chosen as a model alloy,transmission electron microscope (TEM), Simultaneous thermal analysis (STA),Nanoindentor are used to investigate the changes of microstructure under ionirradiation. We investigate the changes of microstructure under various irradiationdose by different irradiation energy and ions. The results are followed. Under7MeVXe ion irradiation, there is no change on microstructure when the irradiation dosebelow5.945×1015ions/cm2. The needle-like nanocrystals are formed when theirradiation dose is up to5.945×1015ions/cm2, the Selection of electron diffraction(SAD) analysis suggest that the nano-crystalline phases consist of primary Cu10Zr7phase and the possible (NixCu1-x)10Zr7phase. The anisotropy of atomic diffusioncaused by ion irradiation is the key factor of the formation of needle-like nanocrystals.Under70keV Ar ion irradiation, the result shows that irradiation can induce theformation of cluster of Cu and Ni enrichment, and number of cluster is sensitive to thedose of irradiation. The scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM)-mappinganalysis suggest that the formation of clusters result from the aggregation of Cu-vacation, Ni-vacation and the free volume-vacation. Moreover, Hardness ofamorphous exhibit great change which suggest Zr50.7Al12.3Cu28Ni9amorphous alloyget great effect under70keV Ar ion irradiation. Under high irradiation dose, the blackspots which are lack of Ni and Cu are formed. The discussion suggest that the blackspots are result from the diffusion of the team atom.