Response of zircon to electron and Ne{sup +} irradiation
- Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
Zircon (ZrSiO{sub 4}) is an actinide host phase in vitreous ceramic nuclear waste forms and a potential host phase for the disposition of excess weapons plutonium. In the present work, the effects of 800 and 900 keV electron and 1 MeV Ne{sup +} irradiations on the structure of single crystals of ZrSiO{sub 4} have been investigated. The microstructural evolution during the irradiations was studied in situ using a high-voltage electron microscope interfaced to an ion accelerator at Argonne National Laboratory. The results indicate that electron irradiation at 15 K cannot amorphize ZrSiO{sub 4} even at fluences an order of magnitude higher than that required for amorphization by 1.5 MeV Kr{sup +} ions. However, the material is readily amorphized by 1 MeV Ne{sup +} irradiation at 15 K. The temperature dependence of this amorphization is discussed in light of previous studies of radiation damage in ZrSiO{sub 4}.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830; AC05-96OR22464
- OSTI ID:
- 564254
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/CP-95762; CONF-971201-; ON: DE98001933; BR: KC0202020; TRN: 98:003220
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1997 fall meeting of the Materials Research Society, Boston, MA (United States), 1-5 Dec 1997; Other Information: PBD: [1997]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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