High temperature annealing of Xe implanted ZrC0.95O0.05 investigated by RBS, TEM and PAS-DBS

Transition metal carbides, such as zirconium carbide (ZrC), are interesting candidates used as structural and fuel cladding materials for the 4th generation Gas cooled Fast Reactors. Three complementary techniques, Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Positron Annihilation Spectrometry using Doppler Broadening Spectroscopy (PAS-DBS) were carried out in order to investigate the thermal behaviour of Xe implanted at 1 at.% in pure ZrC0.95O0.05 samples. The results show that up to 2073 K the Xe distribution remains unchanged. This behaviour can be explained by the trapping of Xe into nanometric bubbles near dislocations walls. More generally, the results show the excellent retention properties for Xe in zirconium carbides.