Raman spectra and nano-indentation of Ar-irradiated borosilicate glass

The structural evolutions of a commercial borosilicate glass induced by 2 MeV Ar irradiation have been studied by Raman spectroscopy, and the modification of the mechanical properties has been investigated with nano-indentation tests. The main peaks at approximately 480 cm−1 in the Raman spectra were found to be shifted toward higher wave numbers after irradiation, which means a decrease of the Si–O–Si bond angle. A weak band, which is called a D2 “defect” peak, appears in the Raman spectra of irradiated glasses. A higher concentration of O2 molecules is found in the irradiated glasses; however, the polymerization of the irradiated glass network has not been changed compared with the pristine glass. The mean hardness of the glasses is decreased up to 17% after irradiation, and the variation of the hardness saturates after the deposited nuclear energy reaches approximately 5.5 × 1020 keVnucl cm−3.