Paweł Horodek

Positron Annihilation Study of Defects Induced by Various Cutting Methods in Stainless Steel Grade 304

We report in this article the comparison of the subsurface zones (SZs) in austenitic stainless steel 304 samples created by three cutting techniques, i.e., the laser cutting (LC), abrasive water jet (AWJ), and traditional milling cutting (MC). The crystal lattice defects distribution in this zone were investigated using the positron annihilation method. It was shown that the MC creates the great number mainly edge dislocations decorated by vacancies. Their concentration decreases with the increase of the depth from the cut surface. The total depth of the SZ is extended up to 150 μm from the cut surface. Similar dependency was observed for the AWJ machining but the total depth is much lower, i.e., 40 μm. The laser cut machining generates the zone with the lowest concentration of defects which does not vary with the depth. However, LC affects the sample up to the depth of about 500 μm. The degree of the surface roughness is similar for laser cut and AWJ, but for the MC it is five times smaller.

Slow positron beam at the JINR, Dubna

Abstract The Low Energy Positron Toroidal Accumulator (LEPTA) at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) proposed for generation of positronium in flight has been adopted for positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS). The positron injector generates continuous slow positron beam with positron energy range between 50 eV and 35 keV. The radioactive 22Na isotope is used. In distinction to popular tungsten foil, here the solid neon is used as moderator. It allows to obtain the beam intensity of about 105 e+/s width energy spectrum characterized by full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 3.4 eV and a tail to lower energies of about 30 eV. The paper covers the characteristic of variable energy positron beam at the LEPTA facility: parameters, the rule of moderation, scheme of injector, and transportation of positrons into the sample chamber. Recent status of the project and its development in the field of PAS is discussed. As an example, the measurement of the positron diffusion length in pure iron is demonstrated.

Studies of stainless steel exposed to sandblasting

Abstract The influence of sandblasting on surface and subsurface of stainless steel is investigated using variable energy positron beam (VEP), positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Samples of stainless steel were blasted using 110 μm particles of Al2O3 under different pressure and time duration. In the case of sandblasting for 90 s, the reduction of positron diffusion length depending on the applied pressure was observed. Sandblasting during 30 s leads only to the reduction of positron diffusion length to about 60 nm for all samples. Positron lifetimes close to 170 ps measured using positrons emitted directly from the source point to the presence of vacancies on the dislocation lines. SEM and AFM images show that surface roughness depends rather on pressure of sandblasting than time of exposition.

The Distribution of Slowing-Down Times of Positrons Emitted from 22Na and 68Ge\68Ga Isotopes into Metals

The results of the Monte Carlo simulation, using GEANT4 codes, of the slowing-down time prior to the thermalization in metals for positrons emitted from the 22Na and 68Ge\68Ga sources are presented. Due to the energy spectrum and probabilistic processes accompanying positrons traversing a medium the slowing-down time exhibits a distribution which has a long tail. Nevertheless, the average value of the time is ranged from 0.4 ps to 8 ps depending on the density of the medium as it is for the 22Na positrons. For positrons emitted from the 68Ga nucleus the average value of the slowing-down time increases and it is ranged from 1 ps to 20 ps.

Positron Annihilation and Complementary Studies of Copper Sandblasted with Alumina Particles at Different Pressures

Positron annihilation spectroscopy and complementary methods were used to detect changes induced by sandblasting of alumina particles at different pressures varying from 1 to 6 bar in pure well-annealed copper. The positron lifetime measurements revealed existence of dislocations and vacancy clusters in the adjoined surface layer. The presence of retained alumina particles in the copper at the depth below 50 µm was found in the SEM pictures and also in the annihilation line shape parameter profiles measured in the etching experiment. The profiles show us that the total depth of damaged zones induced by sandblasting of alumina particles ranges from 140 µm up to ca. 800 µm and it depends on the applied pressure. The work-hardening of the adjoined surface layer was found in the microhardness measurements at the cross-section of the sandblasted samples.

Slow positron beam studies of zirconium exposed to dry sliding

Slow positron beam studies of Zr samples exposed to dry sliding are reported. The observed increase of the annihilation line shape parameter indicates generation of vacancy clusters although an increase of the positron diffusion length suggests recovery process indicated by sliding. The increase of the number of positronium created on the worn surface in comparison to the non damaged surface was noticed.

Defects in Martensitic Stainless Steel 1.4031 (EN) Exposed to Friction as Seen by Positron Annihilation

We present experimental results of measurements of the Doppler broadening of annihilation line and positron annihilation lifetimes in martensitic stainless steel 1.4031 (EN) samples exposed to the dry sliding under different loads. In particular, we tested the subsurface zone under the worn surfaces. As a main result, we obtained information about the defect profiles in this zone and the total extent of the damage region induced by the dry sliding.

Realization of Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy at LEPTA Facility

The Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy (PAS) unit was created as a part of LEPTA project at JINR in Dubna. Currently works performed in PAS laboratory focus on studies of defects in solid state, especially on studying radiation damages in novel materials and semiconductors as a part of the international project “Novel Semiconductor for Fundamental and Applied Research”. This report aims to present a current status of realization and progress in PAS methods at LEPTA facility at JINR.

Study of the e+ Distribution in a Layered Stack Sample Using Positron Lifetime Spectroscopy

The results of the Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, using GEANT4 codes, indicate the enhancement of the fraction of the e+ in the denser regions of the sample embedded by the less dense environment. The positron lifetime measurements, performed for two stacks of layers consisting of pure aluminum and silver do not seem to reveal this effect. Some features of the e+ distribution detected in the experiments are not reproduced by the MC simulations.