Effect of high-energy Ne ions irradiation on mechanical properties difference between Zr_63.5Cu₂₃Al₉Fe_4.5 metallic glass and crystalline W

In this paper, high-energy Ne ions were used to irradiate Zr_63.5Cu₂₃Al₉Fe_4.5 metallic glass (MG) and crystalline W to investigate their difference in mechanical response after irradiation. The results showed that with the irradiation dose increased, the tensile micro-strain increased, nano-hardness increased from 7.11 GPa to 7.90 GPa and 8.62 GPa, Young’s modulus increased, and H³/E² increased which indicating that the plastic deformability decreased in crystalline W. Under the same irradiation conditions, the Zr_63.5Cu₂₃Al₉Fe_4.5 MG still maintained the amorphous structure and became more disordered despite the longer range and stronger displacement damage of Ne ions in Zr_63.5Cu₂₃Al₉Fe_4.5 MG than in crystalline W. Unlike the irradiation hardening and embrittlement behavior of crystalline W, Zr_63.5Cu₂₃Al₉Fe_4.5 MG showed the gradual decrease in hardness from 6.02 GPa to 5.89 GPa and 5.50 GPa, the decrease in modulus and the increase in plastic deformability with the increasing dose. Possibly, the irradiation softening and toughening phenomenon of Zr_63.5Cu₂₃Al₉Fe_4.5 MG could provide new ideas for the design of nuclear materials.