Evolution of structural damage in aluminum alloys irradiated with helium ions

Abstract Microstructural evolution in pure Al and alloys during He + ion irradiation and subsequent annealing was examined by in situ observations. Irradiation was performed over a wide temperature range from 17 to 473 K with fluxes of 3 × 10 17 and 6 × 10 16 m −2 s −1 . In pure Al and alloys irradiated at lowtemperature and subsequently annealed, the number density of interstitial loops and bubbles is higher for a higher ion flux. For high temperature irradiation, the corresponding densities are higher at a lower flux irradiation. Also, the density of bubbles depends largely on the irradiation temperature for high flux irradiation of pure Al and alloys doped with 0.1 at.% Si or Mg.