Ion irradiation effects on amorphization and thermal crystallization in Zr-Al-Ni-Cu alloys

Structural modification and primary precipitates in the Zr55Al10Ni5Cu30 alloy caused by rradiation with 300-500 keV H, Ag, Cu and Au ions has been studied. A metastable primary phase was formed in the ion irradiated alloys followed by the heat treatment, while no difference was observed just after the ion irradiation at room temperature. The deposited energy dependence of the precipitation behavior indicated an increase of the nucleation sites by the implanted metal atoms, simultaneously with a decrease of the growth rate by higher energy deposition density. Ion-induced amorphization was found in the alloys containing crystalline phases by Au ion irradiation at room temperature. Thermal precipitation of the Zr2Ni type crystalline phase in the alloy was effectively suppressed with higher incident Au ion fluence. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.