Early Damage Mechanisms in Nuclear Grade Graphite under Irradiation

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Materials Research Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/21663831.2013.841782· OSTI ID:1110959

Eapen, Dr. Jacob ^[1]; Krishna, Dr Ram ^[1]; Burchell, Timothy D ^[2]; Murty, Prof K.L. ^[1]

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1. North Carolina State University
2. ORNL

Using Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,we delineate the bond and defect structures in nuclear block graphite (NBG-18) under neutron and ion irradiation. The strengthening of the defect (D) peak in the Raman spectra under irradiation is attributed to an increase in the topological, sp2-hybridized defects. Using transmission electron microscopy, we provide evidence for prismatic dislocations as well as a number of basal dislocations dissociating into Shockley partials. The non-vanishing D peak in the Raman spectra, together with a generous number of dislocations, even at low irradiation doses, indicates a dislocation-mediated amorphization process in graphite.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Work for Others (WFO)
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1110959
• Journal Information: Materials Research Letters, Vol. 1, Issue 2; ISSN 2166--3831
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

graphite
radiation damage