Atomic simulations of Fe/Ni multilayer nanocomposites on the radiation damage resistance

We investigated the radiation damage resistance of the Fe/Ni multilayer nanocomposites by molecular dynamics. In the paper, two types of interface configuration with different orientation relationship were constructed. Their morphology evolution and number of final surviving defects induced by cascade collisions were discussed respectively. The interfaces of the two types of Fe/Ni multilayers kept distinct during the long-time relaxation before cascade. The comparison of surviving defects number produced by PKA with 5 keV at 100 K showed that the Fe/Ni multilayers have greater radiation tolerance than that of the bulk materials. However, the orientation relationship of the interface influences the defects self-healing capability greatly when the multilayers are irradiated by higher energy PKA or at high temperature. The radiation damage resistance of the Nishiyama - Wassermann type Fe/Ni multilayers which have larger lattice misfit is more stable than that of the Kurdjumov - Sachs type.