This work studied the effect of sequential irradiation by krypton and helium ions at room temperature on the composition and structure of CoCrFeNi and CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloys (HEAs). Irradiation of the HEAs by 280 keV Kr14+ ions up to a fluence of 5 × 1015 cm–2 and 40 keV He2+ ions up to a fluence of 2 × 1017 cm–2 did not alter their elemental distribution and constituent phases. Blisters formed on the nickel surface after sequential irradiation, where large blisters had an average diameter of 3.8 μm. The lattice parameter of the (Co, Cr, Fe and Ni) and (Co, Cr, Fe, Mn and Ni) solid solutions increased by 0.17% and 0.37% after sequential irradiation, respectively. Irradiation by Kr ions led to a decrease in tensile macrostresses in the HEAs in the region of krypton ion implantation (Region I) and the formation of compressive macrostresses in the region behind the peak of implanted krypton (Region II). Sequential irradiation formed large compressive stresses in Ni and HEAs equal to −131.5 MPa, −300 MPa and −613.5 MPa in Ni, CoCrFeNi and CoCrFeMnNi, respectively, in the Region II. Irradiation by krypton ions decreased the dislocation density by 1.6–2.3 times, and irradiation with helium ions increased it by 11–15 times relative to unirradiated samples for CoCrFeNi and CoCrFeMnNi, respectively. Sequentially irradiated CoCrFeMnNi HEA had higher macrostresses and dislocation density than CoCrFeNi.
The paper presents the results of studying the structure and phase state of tungsten and tungsten-copper alloy after pulsed action of compression plasma flows and irradiation with helium ions. The compression plasma flows were used to modify the surface layer of tungsten, as well as to create an alloy based on tungsten and copper. Using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray structural analysis, the formation of radiation defects on the tungsten surface was detected in the form of local areas of exfoliation and destruction, which begin to form at helium ion irradiation doses of 2 × 1017 cm−2. It is shown that preliminary plasma treatment of the surface in the melting mode leads to the complete disappearance of surface radiation defects up to a dose of 2 × 1017 cm−2, which may be associated with the formation of a fine-crystalline grain structure, the intergranular boundaries of which serve as effective sinks for primary radiation defects.
The results of a tungsten–niobium alloy synthesis by the impact of pulsed compression plasma flows are presented. Tungsten plates with a 2 μm thin niobium coating were treated with dense compression plasma flows generated by a quasi-stationary plasma accelerator. The plasma flow with an absorbed energy density of 35–70 J/cm2 and pulse duration of 100 μs melted the niobium coating and a part of the tungsten substrate, which caused liquid-phase mixing and WNb alloy synthesis. Simulation of the temperature distribution in the top layer of the tungsten after the plasma treatment proved the formation of the melted state. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to determine the structure and phase composition. The thickness of the WNb alloy was 10–20 μm and a W(Nb) bcc solid solution was found.
High-entropy alloys (HEA) are promising structural materials that will successfully resist high-temperature irradiation with helium ions and radiation-induced swelling in new generations of nuclear reactors. In this paper, changes in the elemental and phase composition, surface morphology, and structure of CoCrFeNi and CoCrFeMnNi HEAs irradiated with He2+ ions at a temperature of 700 °C were studied. Structural studies were mainly conducted using the X-ray diffraction method. The formation of a porous surface structure with many microchannels (open blisters) was observed. The average diameter of the blisters in CoCrFeMnNi is around 1.3 times smaller than in CoCrFeNi. It was shown that HEAs’ elemental and phase compositions are stable under high-temperature irradiation. It was revealed that, in the region of the peak of implanted helium, high-temperature irradiation leads to the growth of tensile macrostresses in CoCrFeNi by 3.6 times and the formation of compressive macrostresses (−143 MPa) in CoCrFeMnNi; microstresses in the HEAs increase by 2.4 times; and the dislocation density value increases by 4.3 and 7.5 times for CoCrFeNi and CoCrFeMnNi, respectively. The formation of compressive macrostresses and a higher value of dislocation density indicate that the CoCrFeMnNi HEA tends to have greater radiation resistance compared to CoCrFeNi.