Solid solutions under irradiation. II. Radiation-induced precipitation in AlZn undersaturated solid solutions

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1981 · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.23.3333· OSTI ID:6584394

Cauvin, R; Martin, G

A systematic study of radiation-induced Zn precipitation in undersaturated Al-Zn solid solutions is presented. Zn solubility in Al may be drastically decreased by high-flux 1-MeV electron irradiation (e.g., by a factor greater than 10 at 235 /sup 0/C under 2.5 x 10/sup 20/ e cm/sup -2/ s/sup -1/). The shape and location of the Zn solvus in the AlZn phase diagram is flux dependent. The precipitate volume fraction does not obey the lever rule when applied to the solvus under irradiation. The above features are well accounted for by the model for radiation-induced solid-solution metastability presented in I. According to this model, the irreversible vacancy-interstitial mutual recombination is at the root of the destabilization of the solid solution by irradiation. We therefore suggest that radiation-induced precipitation in this system is an example of a nonequilibrium phase transition.

• Research Organization: Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires de Saclay, Section de Recherches de Metallurgie Physique, Boite Postale No.2, 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France
• OSTI ID: 6584394
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Vol. 23:7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
IRRADIATION
ZINC ALLOYS
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
MEV RANGE 01-10
PHASE DIAGRAMS
PRECIPITATION
SOLID SOLUTIONS
SOLUBILITY
ALLOYS
COLLISIONS
DIAGRAMS
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY RANGE
MEV RANGE
MIXTURES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUTIONS
360106* - Metals & Alloys- Radiation Effects