Irradiation-based design of mechanically resistant microstructures tuned via multiscale phase-field modeling

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Computational Materials Science

Background:

• Phase separating alloys like silver-copper are susceptible to microstructural changes under irradiation.
• Ion irradiation can induce non-equilibrium states and novel microstructures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model the stationary microstructures formed in a silver-copper alloy under krypton ion irradiation.
• To establish a non-equilibrium phase diagram based on irradiation parameters.
• To explore the potential for tuning mechanical properties through microstructure control.

Main Methods:

• Multi-scale phase field modeling was employed.
• Simulations considered 1 MeV krypton ion irradiation effects.
• The study mapped microstructure composition and domain size distribution.

Main Results:

• A stationary microstructure state was achieved under irradiation.
• Microstructure characteristics (composition, size) depend on particle flux and temperature.
• The formation of diverse microstructures, potentially linked to spinodal hardening, was predicted.

Conclusions:

• Irradiated silver-copper alloys can achieve tunable, stationary microstructures.
• Non-equilibrium phase diagrams can guide the design of advanced materials.
• This approach offers a pathway to engineer metastable alloys with enhanced mechanical properties.