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Microstructural Evolution in Amorphous-Nanocrystalline ZrCu Alloy Under Neutron Irradiation

41 Pages Posted: 26 Aug 2019 Publication Status: Accepted

See all articles by Fan Xiong

Fan Xiong

Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics - College of Materials Science and Technology

Ming-fei Li

Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics - College of Materials Science and Technology

Babafemi Malomo

Obafemi Awolowo University - Department of Mechanical Engineering

Liang Yang

Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics - College of Materials Science and Technology

Abstract

An extensive investigation on the microstructural evolution of an amorphous-nanocrystalline alloy (ANA) under neutron irradiation has been conducted by molecular dynamics simulation. It was observed that irradiation-induced vacancies were quickly and fully annihilated in the nanocrystal zone, free zones in the amorphous matrix also recovered themselves completely after structural relaxation. Furthermore, the nanocrystal zone presented an effective self-healing behavior regardless of the intensity of collision cascades that caused it to be partially melted during quenching. Finally, the knocked-on atoms were arrested at the phase boundary, hence, the mechanism of atomic diffusion is non-existent at the nanocrystal grain and neighbouring amorphous zone interface. The ANA materials have been found to demonstrate excellent resistance to neutron irradiation. Hence, the results of this study, would potentially facilitate the development of advanced materials with high irradiation resistance.

Keywords: irradiation effect, molecular dynamics, metallic glass, vacancies, self-healing

Suggested Citation

Xiong, Fan and Li, Ming-fei and Malomo, Babafemi and Yang, Liang, Microstructural Evolution in Amorphous-Nanocrystalline ZrCu Alloy Under Neutron Irradiation. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3441455 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3441455

Fan Xiong

Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics - College of Materials Science and Technology

China

Ming-fei Li

Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics - College of Materials Science and Technology

China

Babafemi Malomo

Obafemi Awolowo University - Department of Mechanical Engineering

Nigeria

Liang Yang (Contact Author)

Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics - College of Materials Science and Technology ( email )

China

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