Investigation of the interaction between irradiation-induced defects and solute atoms in dilute copper alloys by ion channeling

Abstract

Abstract The backscattering-channeling method was used to investigate the interactions between irradiation-induced defects and solute atoms of Ag, Sb and Au in dilute copper alloys. Since the solute atoms were not displaced appreciably from lattice sites by irradiation with ∼1016 1.5 MeV He+ ions/cm2 at 40 or 70 K, it is concluded that the Cu self- interstitials created by the irradiation retained their identity when trapped by the solute atoms. During subsequent annealing between 180 and 270 K, the solute atoms were displaced from lattice sites. The irradiation-induced increase in dechanneling recovered only ∼30% in this temperature range. Further low temperature irradiations reduced the solute atom displacements. These results are consistent with multiple trapping of vacancies at the solute atoms.