Dissolution of precipitates in Al-Ge during 200 keV Al+ ion irradiation

The effect of recoil dissolution on precipitate stability during irradiation has been studied in an Al-Ge alloy. Two-phase samples of Ge precipitates in an Al matrix have been irradiated at -1000C with 200 keV Al+ ions to doses between 6 and 122 dpa. Transmission electron microscopy observations have shown that individual precipitates are replaced by families of precipitates as a result of low-temperature irradiation and warming to room temperature. The microstructure at room temperature following low-temperature irradiation is thought to be determined by the amount of cascade mixing of solute atoms and solvent atoms during irradiation and the degree of re-nucleation in the solute-enriched region surrounding the original precipitate site during warming to room temperature. (orig.)