Fatigue life of silumin irradiated by high intensity pulsed electron beam

The electron-beam processing of silumin, leading to the evolution of structure-phase state of its surface is carried out. It has been shown that this alloy is a multiphase material and contains, except an aluminum-based phase, the particles of intermetallic compounds of Al-Si- Fe-Mn. It is shown that electron beam treatment of the eutectic silumin surface increases the fatigue service life more than in 3.5 times. The analysis of structure-phase states modification of silumin subjected to electron beam treatment with the following fatigue loading up to the failure is carried out by methods of optical and scanning electron diffraction microscopy. Analysis of the surface layer structure revealed the sources of nucleation of submicrocracks. It is revealed that the large silicon plates located on the surface and in the subsurface layer are the most dangerous stress concentrators. (paper)