Tuning heterogeneous ion-radiation damage by composition in Ni _x Fe _{1− x} binary single crystals

Radiation-induced heterogeneous damage is the single largest source of failures seen in structural components in nuclear power reactors. Single crystal materials without grain boundaries, show considerable promise for overcoming this problem. In this work, such heterogeneous damage was further overcome in Ni_xFe_1-x single crystal alloys via a simple strategy of fine-tuning the composition. [001] Ni_xFe_1-x (x = 0, 0.38 and 0.62 at%) single crystals prepared using the Bridgman method were irradiated over a wide fluence range (4 × 10¹³ to 4 × 10¹⁵ ions per cm²). The irradiation-induced defect evolution was studied using Rutherford backscattering/channeling spectrometry, Monte Carlo simulations, transmission electron microscopy and nanoindentation. The results indicate an increased radiation tolerance of Ni_0.38Fe_0.62 compared to pure Ni and Ni_0.62Fe_0.38. The structural analysis performed by transmission electron microscopy revealed that defects tend to agglomerate at one place in Ni and Ni_0.62Fe_0.38, while in Ni_0.38Fe_0.62 no defect accumulation zone (characteristic damage peak) has been captured either at low or high fluence. Moreover, we found that the hardness change with the increase of Fe content is due to different arrangements of Fe atoms in the crystal structure, which influences the obtained mechanical properties of Ni_xFe_1-x in the pristine state and after ion implantation.