Research of the effect of pulsed fluxes of helium ions and helium plasma on the mechanical properties of Ti – Nb – Mo – Zr – Al group alloys

The effect of irradiation by pulsed fluxes of helium ions and helium plasma on the structural characteristics and mechanical properties of titanium alloys of the following compositions (wt. %): Ti – 0,5 Nb – 0,5 Mo – 3 Zr – 3 Al; Ti – 1 Nb – 1 Mo – 3 Zr – 3 Al; Ti – 1,5 Nb – 1,5 Mo – 3 Zr – 3 Al. The irradiation was performed on a Plasma Focus type installation with a flux power density q = 2·108 W/cm2 of for helium ions and for helium plasma q = 4·107 W/cm2 with a pulse duration of 20 – 100 ns. Metallographic and X-ray phase analysis were performed, mechanical properties (ultimate strength, yield strength, elongation) and microhardness of alloy samples before and after irradiation were determined. Irradiation led to a slight (less than 10%) decrease in the strength and ductility of alloy samples, and the microhardness values remained virtually unchanged.