Effect of heavy ion irradiation on thermo-mechanical properties of Fe73.5Si15.5B7Cu1Nb3 amorphous alloy

Non-isothermal crystallization process in amorphous alloy Fe73.5Si15.5B7Cu1Nb3 before and after high-energy heavy ion irradiation with 150 MeV Ni+11 ions has been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The alloy has been irradiated with fluences varying between 1.6×1013 and 2.3×1014 ions cm−2. DSC traces have been analyzed in terms of activation energy for crystallization, Avrami exponent, dimensionality of growth using Matusita formulation. No effect of heavy ion irradiation of above mentioned energy, on the crystallization kinetics has been found. The computed values of kinetic parameters have also been compared with those of parent alloy (Fe78Si9B13) in order to investigate the effect of inclusion of Cu–Nb in the parent alloy. In addition to thermal studies, Vickerʹs micro-hardness is measured by using square-based diamond indentor with a 50-g load before and after high-energy heavy ion irradiation of above mentioned fluences. The micro-hardness of the alloy increases after irradiation.