Effect of 0.25 and 2.0 MeV He-ion irradiation on short-range ordering in model (EFDA) Fe-Cr alloys

TL;DR

This study investigates how 0.25 and 2.0 MeV He-ion irradiation affects the short-range atomic ordering of Cr in Fe-Cr alloys, revealing composition-dependent changes in atomic distribution and magnetic texture.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the irradiation-induced modifications of short-range order in Fe-Cr alloys at different energies and compositions.

Findings

Irradiation increases Cr ordering in Fe5Cr alloy.

Disordering and Cr clustering occur in Fe10Cr and Fe15Cr alloys.

Short-range order persists under 2.0 MeV irradiation with reduced degree.

Abstract

The effect of He+ ion irradiation on a distribution of Cr atoms in model (EFDA) Fe(100-x)Cr(x) (x=5.8, 10.75, 15.15) was studied by means of conversion electrons Mossbauer spectroscopy. The alloys were irradiated to the dose of 1.2E16 ions per cm2 (7.5 dpa) with He+ of 0.25 and 2.0 MeV. The distribution of Cr atoms within the first two coordination shells around the probe Fe atoms was expressed in terms of the Warren-Cowley short-range order parameters alpha1 (first-neighbour shell, 1NN), alpha2 (second-neighbour shell, 2NN) and alpha12 (1NN+2NN. In non-irradiated alloys alpha1 was positive and alpha2 was negative for all three samples which indicates an ordering of Cr atoms. Yet, the value of alpha12 were close to zero, i.e. the distribution of Cr atoms averaged over the first two coordination shells around the probe Fe atoms, was random. The effect of the irradiation of the Fe5Cr sample is similar for the two energies of the He+ projectiles viz. increase of number of Cr atoms in the 1NN and decrease in the 2NN shell. Consequently, the degree of the ordering increased. For the other two samples, the effect of the irradiation depends on the composition, and it is stronger for the less energetic ions where, in the case of Fe10Cr, the disordering disappeared and some traces of Cr clustering (alpha12 weakly positive) can be seen. In the Fe15Cr sample the clustering is clear. In the samples irradiated with 2.0 MeV ions the ordering also survived in the samples with x=10.75 and 15.15, although its degree became smaller than in the Fe5Cr sample. Small changes in the magnetic texture were revealed.