About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Phase Transformations and Microstructural Evolution
|
| Presentation Title |
Effects of Ion Irradiation on Microstructural Pathways and Mechanical Responses in a Refractory HfTiZrTa0.5 Alloy |
| Author(s) |
Sydney E. Copp, Siwei Chen, Yajie Zhao, Sicilia Christadore, Brennan Paterson, Carla Nocheseda, Eric Lass, Mason Phillips, David Donovan, Miguel Crespillo, Steven Zinkle |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Sydney E. Copp |
| Abstract Scope |
Compositionally complex alloys (CCAs) are promising high performance structural material options for future fission and fusion reactors. This study examines the response of HfTiZrTa0.5 CCA, processed with two heat treatments to achieve acceptable ductility, to either 9 MeV Cu ion irradiation (1 or 10 dpa) or high flux helium plasma exposure to a fluence of ~7×10^22/m^2 at 400 oC and 800oC. The parallel testing enables direct comparison of damage mechanisms from ion irradiation versus plasma interaction. Post-exposure SEM, TEM, glancing-incidence XRD, and nanoindentation revealed significant surface roughening and crystallographic texturing at 800 oC in both exposure types. Similar hardness values across heat treatments after irradiation suggest defect formation dominated mechanical response. Evidence of radiation-enhanced phase separation and microstructural evolution was observed. This direct comparison deepens the understanding of how CCAs perform under extreme particle bombardment, informing their development for nuclear structural applications. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
High-Entropy Alloys, Nuclear Materials, Mechanical Properties |