SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1990
STP24654S

Simulation of Solid Inert Gas Bubbles in Metals

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Recent work on the precipitation of inert gases in metals has shown that heavier inert gases such as argon, krypton, and xenon implanted into metals at ambient temperatures can form three-dimensional solid precipitates (referred to as solid bubbles). The formation of solid inert gas bubbles in nickel, aluminum, copper, gold, silver, molybdenum, iron, titanium, and zinc has been reported. We have examined some of these experimental results and found a strong correlation between the solid inert gas lattice parameter and that of the host matrix. In particular, we have carried out an atomistic computer simulation study of solid argon bubbles in nickel. The general features obtained from these results are, however, applicable to other gas-metal systems also.

Three different types of defect configurations in nickel are reported: (1) three-dimensional argon bubbles; (2) argon platelets in (111) planes; and (3) small clusters of argon atoms and vacancies. The relaxation fields of argon and nickel atoms, surface energy at the bubble-matrix interface, and bubble pressure have been computed. The results show that argon atoms can show both inward and outward relaxation with a very strong relaxation field at the surface. The hydrostatic stress shows strong variations at different shells in solid argon although the average bubble pressure is consistent with the experimentally determined pressures. We have also examined the possibility of large relaxation fields in the nickel matrix that could lead to loop punching but do not find any evidence for this.

Author Information

Srinivasan, S
Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India
Tyagi, AK
Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India
Krishan, K
Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India
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Developed by Committee: E10
Pages: 364–376
DOI: 10.1520/STP24654S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5112-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-1266-7