Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1565337 | Journal of Nuclear Materials | 2014 | 8 Pages |
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 1014 Au-ions/cm2. In contrast, little effect on the material properties was noted for samples irradiated with He-ions up to a fluence of 1017 ions/cm2. Thermal annealing was investigated for the highest fluence Au-ion irradiated sample and significant decomposition was observed.