Radiation-induced amorphization of intermetallic compounds

Abstract

In the present paper, important results of our recent computer simulation of radiation-induced amorphization in the ordered compounds CuTi and Cu₄Ti₃ are summarized. The energetic, structural, thermodynamic and mechanical responses of these intermetallics during chemical disordering, point-defect production and heating were simulated, using molecular dynamics and embedded-atom potentials. From the atomistic details obtained, the critical role of radiation-induced structural disorder in driving the crystalline-to-amorphous phase transformation is discussed.

Key Words:

• Amorphization
• phase transformation
• molecular dynamics
• intermetallic compounds