Application of nuclear reaction analysis to the investigation of lithium loss in the surface of Al-Li alloys

doi:10.1016/0168-583X(86)90361-7

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms

Volume 15, Issues 1–6, 1 April 1986, Pages 550-554

https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-583X(86)90361-7 Get rights and content

Abstract

Lithium concentration profiles have been measured using a nuclear reaction analysis technique in an Al—Li alloy that had undergone solution treatment in different environments to determine the extent of lithium loss from the surface.

A finely collimated beam of 2.5 MeV ³He ions, incident on the sample, induces the ⁷Li(³He, p)⁹Be reaction. The emitted protons are detected with a 200 mm² annular silicon detector capable of achieving a sensitivity for lithium of less than 0.01% by weight. Al—Li samples are mounted on a precision micrometer drive and translated through the beam to determine the lithium concentration profiles. The charged particle detection system is calibrated using Al—Li alloys having known bulk concentration of lithium.

The lithium concentration profiles have been measured for an Al—Li alloy exposed to dry air, wet air and argon environments at 500°C for durations of 1, 4 and 16 h. Good agreement was obtained between these measurements and lithium diffusion calculations assuming a constant diffusivity, D = 2.5 × 10⁻⁹cm²/s. Knoop microhardness measurements made on the same Al—Li samples show a definite correlation with the measured lithium concentration profile.

References (5)

C.J. Peel et al.
Aluminum-Lithium Alloys II
F.A. El-Salam et al.
Phys. Stat. Sol. (a)
(1983)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (14)

Energy levels of light nuclei A = 8,9,10
2004, Nuclear Physics A
Depletion of lithium due to surface oxidation: An investigation of an Al-Li-sheet by Auger-spectroscopy
1997, Journal of Alloys and Compounds
The depletion of Li beneath the surface of an AlLi sheet as a consequence of surface oxidation is investigated by Auger electron spectroscopy. By the improved spatial resolution compared to other sampling methods it is shown that the local oxidation rate varies over a wide range on a 10 μm scale. The local oxidation rate gives rise to a local Li depletion combined with the formation of pores in the underlying subsurface region; these pores have a strong influence on the diffusivities perpendicular to the surface. An average of the strongly varying Li concentration profiles resembles, however, the typical diffusion-like depletion curves which have been reported in previous investigations and can be described by a simple solution of a one dimensional diffusion equation. The results are compared with microhardness measurements; it turns out that microhardness values can give a qualitative estimate of the Li depletion as long as no high density of large pores occur in a band beneath the surface.
Cu/Li alloys: Conditions for their application in fusion reactors - focussing on the interaction of segregation and sputtering phenomena
1995, Journal of Nuclear Materials
High-Z alloys containing a small portion of lithium have been studied in recent years with emphasis on their behavior in nuclear fusion relevant reactor environments. Surface segregation and diffusion of the lithium component may open a chance to produce a material for first wall components in fusion reactors, which shows a self-replenishing feature concerning a low-Z coating on a high-Z substrate, being a highly desired issue in the physics of plasma-wall interaction. This article will review the status of experimental and computational results concerning Cu/Li and will furthermore give an extrapolation to the plasma environment expected for a fusion reactor of the next generation. Mandatory material improvements that are still necessary for application of Li-containing alloys in future machines are discussed.
External oxidation of aluminium-lithium alloys
1992, Surface and Coatings Technology
The thermal oxidation dynamics of cold rolled aluminium-3%lithium foils was studied as a function of the annealing temperature, time and environmental gas pressure, by means of Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, thermal neutron depth profiling and scanning electron microscopy. Highly complex behaviour was found, which includes the depletion of lithium atoms from sub-surface layers and their enrichment in the surface area as oxide. The ratio of lithium to oxygen is usually far from stoichiometric. The surface transformation into oxide proceeds very rapidly in the first few minutes, and subsequently hardly shows any change.
Analysis of lithium by ion beam methods
1992, Nuclear Inst. and Methods in Physics Research, B
Analysis methods of lithium based on charged particle bombardment are reviewed. Special interest is paid to the parameters related to experimental arrangements and to the results obtained under the experimental conditions. The applicability of the methods in various fields is surveyed. The ion beam methods are compared with various other physical and chemical analysis methods used for Li detection.
Materials applications of nuclear microprobes
1990, Nuclear Inst. and Methods in Physics Research, B

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Application of nuclear reaction analysis to the investigation of lithium loss in the surface of Al-Li alloys

Abstract

Aluminum-Lithium Alloys II

Phys. Stat. Sol. (a)