Deviating from the pure MAX phase concept: Radiation-tolerant nanostructured dual-phase Cr 2 AlC

A dual-phase Cr AlC material was synthesized using magnetron sputtering at a temperature of 648 K. A stoichiometric and nanocrystalline MAX phase matrix was observed along with the presence of spherical-shaped amorphous nano-zones as a secondary phase. The irradiation resistance of the material was...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science advances 2021-03, Vol.7 (13)
Main Authors: Tunes, M A, Imtyazuddin, M, Kainz, C, Pogatscher, S, Vishnyakov, V M
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:A dual-phase Cr AlC material was synthesized using magnetron sputtering at a temperature of 648 K. A stoichiometric and nanocrystalline MAX phase matrix was observed along with the presence of spherical-shaped amorphous nano-zones as a secondary phase. The irradiation resistance of the material was assessed using a 300-keV Xe ion beam in situ within a transmission electron microscope up to 40 displacements per atom at 623 K: a condition that extrapolates the harmful environments of future fusion and fission nuclear reactors. At the maximum dose investigated, complete amorphization was not observed. Scanning transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive x-ray revealed an association between swelling due to inert gas bubble nucleation and growth and radiation-induced segregation and clustering. Counterintuitively, the findings suggest that preexisting amorphous nano-zones can be beneficial to Cr AlC MAX phase under extreme environments.
ISSN:2375-2548
2375-2548
DOI:10.1126/sciadv.abf6771