Microstructural phase stability of Cu-base alloys under 300 keV Cu+ ion irradiation

Stability of particles of a second phase in Cu-base alloys under irradiation with 300 keV Cu+ ions has been investigated. The irradiations were carried out in the temperature range of 293 to 803 K at displacement rates of 2.3x10-5 and 2.3x10-2 dpa/s. The irradiation dose was between 0.01 and 30 dpa. Transmission electron microscopy was used to study the microstructure. In the present paper we report the results obtained on Cu-Cr-Zr-Si and Cu-Al25 alloys. The precipitates of the hardening phase in the Cu-Cr-Zr-Si alloy are unstable under the irradiation. Their disappearence at room temperature is much more effective than at 803 K. Irradiation of the Cu-Al25 caused significant changes in the oxide particle size distribution. Particles smaller than 10 nm in diameter dissolved rapidly, wheras the big ones fragmented into smaller particles. (orig.)