Low-temperature volume radiation annealing of cold-worked bands of Al-Li-Cu-Mg alloy by 20-40 keV Ar+ ion

Abstract

The processes of radiation-dynamic nature (in contrast to the thermally-activated processes) in the course of short-term irradiation of 1 mm thick bands of cold-worked aluminum alloy 1441 (of system Al-Li-Cu-Mg) with Ar+ 20-40 keV were studied. An effect of in-the-bulk (throughout the whole of metal bands thickness) low-temperature radiation annealing of the named alloy, multiply accelerated as compared with common thermal annealing processes was registered (with projected ranges of ions of considered energies definitely not exceeding 0.1 μm). The processes of recrystallization and intermetallic structure changes (occurring within a few seconds of Ar+ irradiation) have the common features as well as the differences in comparison with the results of two hour standard thermal annealing.