Mechanical properties of carbon steel depending on the rate of the dose build-up of nitrogen and argon ions

Abstract

The effect of pulsed irradiation with argons and nitrogen ions on the mechanical properties, mor� phology, and structure of the surface layers of carbon steel St3 (0.2% C, 0.4% Mn, 0.15% Si, and Fe for bal� ance) has been investigated depending on the rate of dose buildup at an average ion current density of 10, 20, and 40 μA/cm 2 . It has been established that the fatigue life and microhardness of surface layers increase in the entire studied range of dose buildup rates. This seems to be due to the hardening of the surface layers, which resulted from the generation of radiation defects and the irradiationdynamic effect of fast ions. The sample irradiated by argon ions at the lowest of the selected dose buildup rates j av = 10 μA/cm 2 withstands the largest number of cycles to failure.