Microstructure of Swift Heavy Ion Irradiated MgAl(Sub 2)O(Sub 4) Spinel

Conference · Mon Nov 30 04:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:3461

Matzke, H ^[1]; Skuratov, V A; Zinkle, S J

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1. ORNL

Plan view and cross-section transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the microstructure of magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl{sub 2}O{sub 4}) following room temperature irradiation with either 430 MeV Kr, 614 MeV Xe, or 72 MeV I ions. The fluences ranged from 1 x 10{sup 16}/m{sup 2} (single track regime) to 1 x 10{sup 20}/m{sup 2}. Destruction of the ordered spinel crystal structure on both the anion and cation sublattices was observed in the ion tracks at low fluences. At intermediate fluences, the overlapping ion tracks induced the formation of a new metastable crystalline phase. Amorphization with a volumetric expansion of {approximately}35% was observed in spinel irradiated with swift heavy ions (electronic stopping powers >7 keV/nm) at fluences above 1 x 10{sup 19}/m{sup 2}. These results demonstrate that swift heavy ion radiation can induce microstructural changes not achievable with conventional elastic collision irradiation at comparable temperatures.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Research (ER) (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-96OR22464
• OSTI ID: 3461
• Report Number(s): ORNL/CP-101224; AT 60 20 00 0; AT 60 20 00 0
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINATES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
HEAVY IONS
MAGNESIUM
MICROSTRUCTURE
SPINELS
STOPPING POWER
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY