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Amorphous intergranular films mitigate radiation damage in nanocrystalline Cu-Zr

Journal Article · · Acta Materialia
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [3];  [2]
  1. Univ. of California, Irvine, CA (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering; Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Material, Physical, and Chemical Sciences
  2. Univ. of California, Irvine, CA (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
  3. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Material, Physical, and Chemical Sciences

Nanocrystalline metals are promising radiation tolerant materials due to their large interfacial volume fraction, but irradiation-induced grain growth can eventually degrade any improvement in radiation tolerance. Therefore, methods to limit grain growth and simultaneously improve the radiation tolerance of nanocrystalline metals are needed. Amorphous intergranular films are unique grain boundary structures that are predicted to have improved sink efficiencies due to their increased thickness and amorphous structure, while also improving grain size stability. Here, ball milled nanocrystalline Cu-Zr alloys are heat treated to either have only ordered grain boundaries or to contain amorphous intergranular films distributed within the grain boundary network, and are then subjected to in situ transmission electron microscopy irradiation and ex situ irradiation. Differences in defect density and grain growth due to grain boundary complexion type are then investigated. When amorphous intergranular films are incorporated within the material, fewer and smaller defect clusters are observed while grain growth is also limited, leading to nanocrystalline alloys with improved radiation tolerance.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000; SC0014232; NA0003525
OSTI ID:
1650164
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1592200
Report Number(s):
SAND--2020-8398J; 689921
Journal Information:
Acta Materialia, Journal Name: Acta Materialia Vol. 186; ISSN 1359-6454
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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