Surface morphology and phase stability of titanium irradiated with 168 MeV 136Xe ions

A titanium sample was irradiated with Xe 168 MeV energy at fluences of 1 × 10 , 2.2 × 10 , and 5 × 10 ions · m . Changes induced by the ions with irradiation were analysed with an atomic force microscope, scanning electron microscope, and X-ray diffractometer. The irradiation at a fluence of 1 × 10 ions · cm leads to formation of hillocks with a density of 9 × 10 hillocks · cm . An increase in the fluence value results in disappearance of the hillocks and formation of void–dislocation lines. The changes in the surface topography are accompanied by a change in the relative content of the hcp (α) and fcc phases. The substantial changes in the crystalline structure (increased content of the fcc phase, reduction of lattice constants, changes in stresses) resulted from irradiation at a fluence of 1 × 10 ions · cm . Irradiation of massive titanium samples with xenon ions at a fluence of 168 MeV 1 × 10 ions · cm at room temperature leads to a transition of ∼10% of the hexagonally closed-packed phase – hcp (α) into a face centred cubic structure (the fcc phase). Higher Xe ion fluences contribute to further reduction of lattice constants and crystallite sizes as well as reduction of the phase fcc content and lower values of stresses. It has been found for the first time that irradiation at higher fluences leads to partial recovery of the hcp (α) phase. Irradiation changes the texture of∼50% of the fcc phase crystallites.