Background: Alloys have been largely used as nuclear materials.However

enhancement of the resistance of particle radiation and the mechanical properties in alloys are still required.Purpose: To develop a new type of Zr-based nuclear material with good mechanical properties.Methods: DC magnetron sputtering was applied to prepare ZrCu binary amorphous films on the pure zirconium substrate.The structure of ZrCu films was characterized using scanning electron microscopy

energy dispersive spectroscopy

X-ray diffraction

and high resolution transmission electron microscope.Mechanical properties testing were carried out for the ZrCu films and the film/substrate composite materials.Results: It is found that in the compositions ranged from Zr40Cu60 to Zr80Cu20

amorphous films can be prepared

and Zr65Cu35 amorphous film has relatively high hardness and high Young’s modulus.Compared with the pure Zr plate having the same size and shape

the Zr substrate coated with Zr65Cu35 amorphous film possesses a larger tensile strength

bending strength

and in particular obviously larger plastic-strain range.Conclusions: Zr crystalline plate coated with ZrCu amorphous film is a new type of nuclear materials with excellent mechanical properties.