Deviating from the pure MAX phase concept: Radiation-tolerant nanostructured dual-phase CrAlC.

A dual-phase CrAlC material was synthesized using magnetron sputtering at a temperature of 648 K. A stoichiometric and nanocrystalline MAX phase matrix was observed along with the presence of spherical-shaped amorphous nano-zones as a secondary phase. The irradiation resistance of the material was assessed using a 300-keV Xe ion beam in situ within a transmission electron microscope up to 40 displacements per atom at 623 K: a condition that extrapolates the harmful environments of future fusion and fission nuclear reactors.

Effect of aluminium concentration on phase formation and radiation stability of CrAl C thin film.

Near-stoichiometric and under-stoichiometric CrAl C (x = 0.9 and 0.75) amorphous compositions were deposited onto a silicon substrate at 330 K in a layer-by-layer fashion using magnetron sputtering from elemental targets.