The features of the structural state and phase composition of the surface layer of aluminum alloy Al-Mg-Cu-Zn-Zr irradiated by the high current electron beam

Abstract

The structural and phase changes in the surface layer of the 1933 aluminum alloy caused by the irradiation of a high-current relativistic electron beam are studied. The impact of the electron beam leads to the formation of a remelted surface layer with surface relief and microcracks. The structural phase state of this layer is determined by the complex impact of the electron beam and the kinetics of melt crystallization under ultrafast cooling. Via X-ray diffraction studies and the results of energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis it became possible to make a conclusion that submicron sizes of magnesium oxide are present in the remelted layer. MgO inclusions are distributed homogeneously in the remelted layer. The presence of MgO inclusions leads to hardening of the surface layer of the alloy. The nature of formation of MgO during the impact of a pulsed electron beam are discussed