Deep Modification of materials by thermal stress wave generated by irradiation of high-current pulsed electron beams

High-current pulsed electron beams generate modifications in materials over a depth range of a few hundred micrometers, far beyond the heat-affected zone. In this article, the authors presented relevant experimental results in a stainless steel substrate and described the associated transient thermal and stress processes. They attributed the deep modification to an intense stress wave arising from drastic heating of the materials about 2 similar to 3 mu m below the surface as a result of the deep penetration of electrons. Thanks to the large amplitude at several gigapscals the stress wave exerted intense impacts over a long distance. They also revealed that the interactions were dependent on the grain orientation.