J Mater Sci Technol ›› 1994, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (4): 235-245.

• Articles •     Next Articles

Microstructure and Mechanical Behaviour of Proton-and Ion-irradiated Ll_2 Intermetallic Compounds

F. C. Chen and A .J.Ardell (Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1595, USA)   

  • Received:1994-07-28 Revised:1994-07-28 Online:1994-07-28 Published:2009-10-10

Abstract: The results of mechanical testing and transmission electron microscopy on the ordered intermetallic Ll2 compounds1Zr3Al, Ni3Al, Ni3Si and Ni3Ge after irradiation with protons or heavy ions at high or low tem peratu re are presented and discussed. Using a minjaturjzed disk-bend test. it was found that proton irradiation of Zr3Al. Ni3Al and Ni3Si raises their yield strength :a single test of Ni3Ge shows no effect on the fracture stress of this brittle intermetallic The Vickers microhardness of all four alloys is raised by proton irradiation. The irradiations cause all the alloys to disorder. the extent of which is dependent on irradiation temperature Microstructural defects are produced by the irradiations Some exhibit strain-field contrast under dynamic two-beam diffracting conditions. Other distinct defect clusters are imaged only in dark-field using su perlattice reflections, These latter defects are discussed in the context of current arnorphization models. The strength increase of Zr3Al, Ni3Al and Ni3Si is attributed to a combination of disordering and strengthening from defects. The lack of an effect of irradiation on the fracture stress of Ni3Ge. in which voids were observed, requires further experiments