MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF 10 MEV XE3+ IRRADIATED CU AND CUAL25

The influence of a 10 MeV Xe3+ ion irradiation at room temperature on the mechanical properties (hardness and elastic modulus) of CuAl25 and of Cu was investigated. The nanoindentation technique was used to det ermine hardness and elastic modulus. The specimens were annealed at 72 3 K for 0.5 h in order to reduce the amount of dislocation loops, whic h were produced during irradiation. In both materials an increase in h ardness was detected whereas the elastic modulus was not significantly influenced by the ion irradiation. The relative increase of the hardn ess by the irradiation was 70% for CuAl25 and 40% for Cu. It seems tha t in the case of pure Cu the increase in hardness is due to insufficie nt annealing. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that the numb er density of small Al2O3 particles in CuAl25 decreased and that large r ones appeared to be fragmented after irradiation.