Ion beam irradiation effects in strontium zirconium phosphate with NZP-structure type

• Published in: Journal of nuclear materials Vol. 446; no. 1-3; pp. 224 - 231
• Main Authors: Gregg, Daniel J., Karatchevtseva, Inna, Thorogood, Gordon J., Davis, Joel, Bell, Benjamin D.C., Jackson, Matthew, Dayal, Pranesh, Ionescu, Mihail, Triani, Gerry, Short, Ken, Lumpkin, Gregory R., Vance, Eric R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.03.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Wood. Peat. Brown coal
• ISSN: 0022-3115; 1873-4820
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2013.11.048

Ceramics with the sodium zirconium phosphate or NZP type structure have potential as nuclear waste form and inert matrix materials. For both applications the material will be subjected to self-radiation damage from α-decay of the incorporated actinides. In this study, ion-beam irradiation using Au- and He-ions has been used to simulate the consequences of α-decay and the effects of irradiation on the structural and macroscopic properties (density and hardness) have been investigated. Irradiation by Au-ions resulted in a significant volume contraction of ∼7%, a reduction in hardness of ∼30% and a loss in long-range order at fluences above 1014Au-ions/cm2. In contrast, little effect on the material properties was noted for samples irradiated with He-ions up to a fluence of 1017ions/cm2. Thermal annealing was investigated for the highest fluence Au-ion irradiated sample and significant decomposition was observed.