Composition dependence of radiation induced patterns in non miscible alloys

TL;DR

This paper introduces a theoretical method to predict steady-state irradiation patterns in binary alloys, revealing that composition influences pattern formation alongside flux and temperature, enabling tailored material design.

Contribution

A novel theoretical approach that predicts irradiation-induced patterns in alloys based on composition, flux, and temperature without solving complex evolution equations.

Findings

Patterns depend on composition, flux, and temperature.

Stripes and honeycomb structures are controllable via these parameters.

Method enables designing materials with specific irradiation microstructures.

Abstract

We present a theoretical approach exhaustively predicting the variety of steady-state shapes emerging under irradiation in thermodynamically unstable binary mixtures. We show that stripes or honeycomb structures are controlled not only by the two classical irradiation parameters: the irradiation flux and the temperature, but also by the nominal composition of the mixture. A rationale is thereby established for the results found in the literature. Moreover, the present developments lead to a simple methodology for predicting irradiation patterning without solving any evolution equation. It is foreseen, that this hands-on method will allow preparing materials with desired properties stemming from metastable irradiation microstructures produced on demand.