Structural response of SiC and PyC on
swift heavy ion irradiation
J.H. O'Connell1 ,E.J. Olivier1 and V.A. Skuratov2
1
Department of Physics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
2 Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russia
Group for ion-implantation nanotechnology and radiation materials science
Examination of the dense ionization effect in ceramics and oxides with heavy
ions of fission fragments energy
The overall intention of this work is to yield sufficient basic data to determine
and compare the radiation tolerance of several ceramics and oxide crystals
considered as candidates materials for inert matrix fuel hosts using heavy ion
beams of fission fragment energy.
Inert matrices - ceramics with a high melting point and with low neutron
absorption cross sections (MgAl2O4, MgO, Al2O3, ZrO2, SiC, ZrC, AlN, Si3N4) to
be used as hosts for transmutation of actinides via nuclear reactions.
IC-100 FLNR JINR cyclotron. E  1.2 MeV/amu
Experimental methods:
In situ ionoluminescence measurements (to study the radiation damage and stress
accumulation processes in swift heavy ion irradiated materials)
Experimental set-up for ion-beam-induced luminescence measurements on
IC-100 FLNR JINR cyclotron
In situ ionoluminescence measurements are used to study the radiation damage
and stress accumulation processes in swift heavy ion irradiating materials
Role of SiC and PyC in TRISO (TRIstructural ISOtropic) Particle design
Examination of the dense ionization effect in ceramics and oxides with heavy
ions of fission fragments energy
Comparison of the low-magnification
microstructures of SiC, AlN and Si3N4
irradiated with 31012 см-2 710 MeV Bi
ions
No evidence for track formation was
obtained in SiC and AlN
Examination of the dense ionization effect in ceramics and oxides with heavy
ions of fission fragments energy
Threshold ionizing radiation levels for
track formation in ceramics
Material
Se, keV/nm
MgAl2O4
Si3N4
8
15
Al2O3
> 41
AlN
> 34
SiC
> 34
High-resolution lattice image of Si3N4
irradiated with 710 MeV Bi ions (planar
specimen)
S.J. Zinkle, V.A. Skuratov and D.T. Hoelzer. Nucl. Instr. Meth. 2002, B 191,1-4, pp. 758-766.
Examination of the dense ionization effect in ceramics and oxides with heavy
ions of fission fragments energy
3D AFM image of of MgAl2O4 surface irradiated with 710 MeV Bi ions.
Ion fluence 5x1010 cm-2.
No surface damage associated with single ion impact, like observed
on spinel, have been revealed in SiC
Examination of the structural integrity of constituent coating materials of triso
fuel particles for use in generation IV HTGRs
Work done at NMMU up until now is to study the structural response of
SiC and PyC under irradiation by high energy neutrons as well as low
energy light and heavy fission fragments. In addition the effects of
radiation damage on metallic fission product diffusion through the
coating layers are investigated.
The main techniques employed in this research are:
• TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy)
• SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy)
• AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy)
• Nano Hardness Measurements
• X- Ray Diffraction
TEM as method for evaluation of structural defects caused by radiation
damage
He+
BF XTEM micrograph of 6H-SiC implanted with 100 keV He+ with
TRIM calculated damage and range overlayed.
TEM as method for evaluation of structural defects caused by radiation
damage
He+
200nm
BF XTEM micrograph of 6H-SiC implanted with 100 keV He+
showing strain contrast.
Proposed areas of collaboration between FLNR and NMMU
• Investigation of the structural response of SiC and PyC irradiated with
swift heavy ions done at the FLNR as well as the role of swift heavy
ions on the evolution of existing radiation induced damage.
• Study of the effect of swift heavy ions on the diffusion characteristics in
SiC and PyC
• TEM and XRD examination of the accumulated stresses in various
ceramics and oxides irradiated with swift heavy ions at the FLNR
Examination of the dense ionization effect in ceramics and oxides with heavy
ions of fission fragments energy
240 MeV Kr, 300 K, ion fluence -1014 cm-2 Rp=18 m
virgin
Depth-resolved R-lines photoluminescence spectra measured in Al2O3:Cr using LCSM (laser confocal
scanning microscopy)
We aim to measure the average stress level by XRD and study microstructure by XTEM to
find correlation between radiation damage and residual tress profiles
Thank you.