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

Abstract

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 alpha-decay of the incorporated actinides. In this study, ion-beam irradiation using Au- and He-ions has been used to simulate the consequences of a-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 similar to 7%, a reduction in hardness of similar to 30% and a loss in long-range order at fluences above 10(14) Au-ions/cm(2). In contrast, little effect on the material properties was noted for samples irradiated with He-ions up to a fluence of 10(17) ions/cm(2). Thermal annealing was investigated for the highest fluence Au-ion irradiated sample and significant decomposition was observed. © 2014, Elsevier Ltd.