THERMAL STABILITY OF HELIUM BUBBLES IN NANOCRYATALLINE GOLD PREPARED BY GAS DEPOSITION METHOD

Specimens of nanocrystalline pure gold were prepared by the gas deposition method. The formation of helium bubbles in the specimens and their annealing behavior were studied in order to confirm their effect on thermal stabilities of grain size and mechanical properties. The specimens with 10-25nm mean grain size were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction methods. Spherical helium bubbles, about 5nm in diameter, were formed, the same as in the case of helium ion implantation. After annealing at 573K for 1h in vacuum, most of the bubbles had not disappeared and some were trapped at the grain boundaries. Larger numbers of bubbles were trapped at grain boundaries in the specimens with high thermal stability than for low thermal stability specimens. Helium bubbles trapped at grain boundaries can be considered as local barriers to grain growth and to contribute to thermal stability of mechanical properties.