EFFECTS OF SILICON ION IRRADIATION ON ALUMINUM ALLOYS

Aluminum alloys are common materials in the nuclear industry, used in numerous different components in research reactor cores. During reactor operation components are exposed to a neutron flux generating radiation damage. This can affect the material`s microstructure, resulting in degradation of properties.

In the current study, Al 6063 and AlFeNi have been irradiated with both Si ions and neutrons. Si ion irradiation creates damage associated with Frenkel pair formation, while introducing silicon in the aluminum matrix. This mimics the formation of silicon through aluminum transmutation, due to the interaction with thermal neutrons. Si ion irradiations were performed at different sets of parameters. The microstructure of both alloys before and after irradiation was studied by TEM. The mechanical properties of the ion irradiated materials were characterized using nanoindentation. The effects of the ion and neutron irradiations on microstructure and mechanical properties will be presented and discussed.