MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROPERTY MODIFICATIONS IN SURFACE LAYERS OF A AA6111 ALUMINUM ALLOY INDUCED BY HIGH-CURRENT PULSED RELATIVISTIC ELECTRON BEAM

Abstract

The processing of the AA6111-T4 aluminum alloy by the high-current relativistic electron beams affects the forming of the surface layer with a modified structure and phase state. The depth of the modified surface layer achieves 200 μm. The changes in microstructure occurring both in the near-surface layer and in the modified layer can be distinguished with XDR, SEM, and EDS analyses. It is established that the aluminum-based supersaturated solid solution makes the main phase of the modified layer, whereas intermetallic phases that were present in the initial state of the alloy are not distinguished by the X-ray methods in the modified layer. There are some available microcracks and craters on the surface of the remelt layer. Discussion of the results of these observations gains a more sufficient understanding of the processes raised by the irradiation by a high-current relativistic electron beam.