Radiation response of amorphous metal alloys Subcascades, thermal spikes and super-quenched zones》.pdf

Available online at ScienceDirect Acta Materialia 83 (2015) 419–430 /locate/actamat Radiation response of amorphous metal alloys: Subcascades, thermal spikes and super-quenched zones R.E. Baumera,b,⇑ and M.J. Demkowiczb aResearch and Development, The Dow Chemical Company, Building 1776, Midland, MI 48674, USA bDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA Received 20 August 2014; revised 7 October 2014; accepted 8 October 2014 Available online 1 November 2014 Abstract—We investigate the radiation response of amorphous metal alloys using molecular dynamics simulations of 0.5 MeV primary knock-on atoms (PKAs) in 0.5-billion-atom models. The PKAs dissipate their energy in spatially distinct subcascades, rather than continuous ion tracks. The subcascades initiate localized thermal spikes that melt and quench rapidly to ambient temperature, leaving behind vitrified amorphous zones of exceptionally high fictive temperature. These “super-quenched zones” may account for experimental observations of radiation-induced void-free saturable swelling and radiation-enhanced ductility in metallic glasses. We also assess the effect of composition and degree of relaxation on radiation response of amorphous metal alloys. 2014 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Metallic glasses; Radiation effects; Molecular dynamics 1. Introduction