Abstract
The main aim of this study is to identify the role of energy and type of incident ions during irradiation of the near-surface layers of the AlNbTiVZr alloy in alteration of the structural and mechanical properties, as well as to determine the role of accumulation of structural damage on the softening of the near-surface layer depending on the irradiation fluence. According to the data obtained, it was established that a change in the type of ions and the energy of ions leads to a growth in the degree of structural damage associated with volumetric swelling, while an increase in the energy of ions leads to an elevation in the degree of deformation distortions of the tensile type, caused by an increase in ionization losses and cascade displacements, which elevate the concentration of defects in the near-surface layer. It has been shown that the development of volumetric swelling processes and the accumulation of defective clusters are the main factors causing a decrease in hardness and deterioration of the mechanical characteristics of the irradiated material. The results obtained demonstrate that the type and energy of incident ions, as well as the irradiation fluence, have a determining effect on the kinetics of degradation of mechanical properties and radiation resistance of the near-surface layers of the alloy under study.