Effect of neutron radiation on the dielectric, mechanical and thermal properties of ceramics for RF transmission windows

Technical Report · Thu Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/304183· OSTI ID:304183

Hazelton, C; Rice, J ^[1]; Snead, L L; Zinkle, S J ^[2]

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1. Composite Technology Development, Inc., Lafayette, CO (United States)
2. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States). Metals and Ceramics Div.

The behavior of electrically insulating ceramics was investigated before and after exposure to neutron radiation. Mechanical, thermal and dielectric specimens were studied after exposure to a fast neutron dose of 0.1 displacements per atom (dpa) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Four materials were compared to alumina: polycrystalline spinel, aluminum nitride, sialon and silicon nitride. Mechanical bend tests were performed before and after irradiation. Thermal diffusivity was measured using a room temperature laser flash technique. Dielectric loss factor was measured at 105 MHz with a special high resolution resonance cavity. The materials exhibited a significant degradation of thermal diffusivity and an increase in dielectric loss tangent. The flexural strength and physical dimensions were not significantly affected by the 0.1 dpa level of neutron radiation. The aluminum nitride and S silicon nitride showed superior RF window performance over the sialon and the alumina. The results are compared to radiation studies on similar materials.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Metals and Ceramics Div., TN (United States); Composite Technology Development, Inc., Lafayette, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-96OR22464; FG03-93ER81586
• OSTI ID: 304183
• Report Number(s): ORNL/CP--98583; CONF-980604--; ON: DE99001340; BR: AT6020000
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ALUMINIUM NITRIDES
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
ITER TOKAMAK
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
NEUTRONS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
RF SYSTEMS
SILICON NITRIDES
SPINELS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
WINDOWS