Structural and mechanical properties of irradiated multilayer nanocomposites

Abstract

Radiation damage processes in ion-irradiated metals have been thoroughly studied in the last decade revealing complexity and multiscale nature of material damage. Conversely, very little attention has been paid regarding gamma rays damage, which, in reactor pressure vessels, was found to be comparable to that produced by fast neutrons. Nanoscale structural control of nuclear materials through design of interfaces is a promising way of limiting radiation damage. Here we report two case studies regarding: (i) the role of interfaces and of He-ion radiation doses on the structural and mechanical properties of a sputter-deposited Cu/W multilayer, and (ii) the role of interface density distribution on the structural and mechanical properties of gamma-irradiated Zr/Nb multilayers. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were employed to investigate radiation damage, while mechanical properties were explored by nanoindentation. We propose correlations between radiation experiments and materials properties for each case