Nano-scale microstructure damage by neutron irradiations in a novel Boron-11 enriched TiB2 ultra-high temperature ceramic

Bhattacharya, Arunodaya; Parish, Chad M.; Koyanagi, Takaaki; Petrie, Christian M.; King, Derek; Hilmas, Greg E.; Fahrenholtz, William G.; Zinkle, Steven J.; Katoh, Yutai

doi:10.1016/j.actamat.2018.11.030

Title: Nano-scale microstructure damage by neutron irradiations in a novel Boron-11 enriched TiB₂ ultra-high temperature ceramic

Journal Article · 18 November 2018 · Acta Materialia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2018.11.030 · OSTI ID:1484130

^[1];

^[1]; King, Derek ^[2]; Hilmas, Greg E. ^[2];

^[2];

^[3];

^[1]

Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Missouri Univ. of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO (United States)
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)

Ultra-high temperature transition-metal ceramics are potential candidates for fusion reactor structural and plasma-facing components. We reveal the irradiation damage microstructural phenomena in Boron-11 enriched titanium diboride (TiB₂) using mixed-spectrum neutron irradiations, combined with state-of-art characterization using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution TEM. Irradiations were performed using High Flux Isotope Reactor at ~220 and 620 °C up to 2.4 x 10²⁵ n.m^-2 (E > 0.1 MeV). The calculated dose including contribution from residual Boron-10 (¹⁰B) transmutation recoils, was ~4.2 displacements per atom. TiB₂ is susceptible to irradiation damage in terms of dislocation loop formation, cavities and anisotropic swelling induced micro-cracking. At both 220 and 620 °C, TEM revealed dislocation loops on basal and prism planes, with nearly two orders of magnitude higher number density of prism-plane loops. HRTEM, electron diffraction and relrod imaging revealed additional defects on {10$$ \overline{1}\ $$0} planes, identified as faulted prism-plane dislocation loops. High defect cluster density on prism planes will induce a-lattice parameter swelling of TiB₂, as reported in literature. This anisotropic lattice parameter swelling induced grain boundary micro-cracking, the extent of which decreased with increasing irradiation temperature. The dominance of irradiation defect clusters on prism planes is different than typical hexagonal ceramics where dislocation loops predominantly form on basal planes, causing c-lattice parameter swelling. Helium generation and temperature rise from the transmutation of residual ¹⁰B resulted in matrix and grain boundary cavities for the irradiation at 620 °C. In conclusion, the study additionally signifies isotopic enrichment as a viable approach to produce transition-metal diborides for potential nuclear structural applications.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Cite

Export

Save

Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 1484130

Journal Information:: Acta Materialia, Journal Name: Acta Materialia Journal Issue: C Vol. 165; ISSN 1359-6454

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (69)

Structural and electron diffraction data for sapphire (?-al2o3) Lee, W. E.; Lagerlof, K. P. D. Journal of Electron Microscopy Technique, Vol. 2, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.1060020309	journal	January 1985
Transmission electron microscope studies of dislocation loops in heavy-ion irradiated H.C.P. cobalt Föll, H.; Wilkens, M. Physica Status Solidi (a), Vol. 39, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1002/pssa.2210390224	journal	February 1977
Practical analysis of Li distribution by EELS: Analysis of Li distribution by EELS Akita, Tomoki; Taguchi, Noboru Surface and Interface Analysis, Vol. 48, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1002/sia.6082	journal	July 2016
Surface, grain-boundary and interfacial energies in Al2O3 and Al2O3-Sn, Al2O3-Co systems Nikolopoulos, P. Journal of Materials Science, Vol. 20, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00552390	journal	November 1985
Silicon nitride crystal structure and observations of lattice defects Wang, Chong -Min; Pan, Xiaoqing; R�hle, M. Journal of Materials Science, Vol. 31, Issue 20 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01159294	journal	January 1996
Grain boundary energy anisotropy: a review Rohrer, Gregory S. Journal of Materials Science, Vol. 46, Issue 18 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-011-5677-3	journal	September 2011
Etude au microscope electronique des defauts de structure dans l'oxyde de beryllium fritte irradie Bisson, A. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 10, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3115(63)90183-1	journal	December 1963
Electron microscopy of irradiated BeO Rau, Robert C. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 11, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3115(64)90023-6	journal	April 1964
Electron microscopy of irradiated BeO Wilks, R. S.; Clarke, F. J. P. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 14 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3115(64)90175-8	journal	January 1964
Direct observations of damage in neutron irradiated beryllium oxide Chute, J. H.; Walker, D. G. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 14 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3115(64)90176-X	journal	January 1964
Mechanisms of irradiation-induced growth and cracking in beryllia Clarke, F. J. P.; Wilks, R. S.; Bowen, D. H. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 14 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3115(64)90179-5	journal	January 1964
Transmission electron microscope studies of neutron irradiated beryllium oxide Rau, R. C. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 20, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3115(66)90002-X	journal	August 1966
Removal of anisotropic growth strains in neutron-irradiated beryllium oxide Hickman, B. S.; Rotsey, W. B.; Veevers, K. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 20, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3115(66)90030-4	journal	July 1966
Neutron irradiation damage in MgO, Al2O3 and MgAl2O4 ceramics Clinard, F. W.; Hurley, G. F.; Hobbs, L. W. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 108-109 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3115(82)90538-4	journal	July 1982
Evolution of microstructure in hcp metals during irradiation Griffiths, M. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 205 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3115(93)90085-D	journal	October 1993
Swelling and microstructure of A1N irradiated in a fast reactor Yano, Toyohiko; Iseki, Takayoshi Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 203, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3115(93)90381-8	journal	September 1993
Characterisation of radiation-damage microstructures by TEM Jenkins, M. L. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 216 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3115(94)90010-8	journal	October 1994
Neutron cross sections of the boron isotopes for energies between 10 and 500 keV Mooring, F. P.; Monahan, J. E.; Huddleston, C. M. Nuclear Physics, Vol. 82, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0029-5582(66)90520-7	journal	July 1966
Titanium diboride coatings and their interaction with the substrates Pierson, H. O.; Randich, E. Thin Solid Films, Vol. 54, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-6090(78)90282-1	journal	October 1978
Deuterium and helium ion irradiation effects on TiB2 coatings Das, S. K.; Kaminsky, M. Thin Solid Films, Vol. 63, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-6090(79)90026-9	journal	November 1979
Microscopic studies of defect formation under dense electronic excitation in insulators Katsumi, Tanimura; Noriaki, Itoh Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, Vol. 32, Issue 1-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-583X(88)90211-X	journal	May 1988
Macroscopic length, lattice parameter and microstructural changes in neutron-irradiated aluminum nitride due to annealing Yano, T.; Tezuka, M.; Miyazaki, H. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 191-194 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3115(09)80124-4	journal	September 1992
Fracturing of borides under neutron irradiation Grinik, E. U.; Ogorodnikov, V. V.; Krainy, A. G. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 233-237 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3115(96)00293-0	journal	October 1996
Defect production in ceramics Zinkle, S. J.; Kinoshita, C. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 251 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3115(97)00224-9	journal	November 1997
Comparative wear in titanium diboride coatings on steel using high energy density processes Agarwal, Arvind; Dahotre, Narendra B. Wear, Vol. 240, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1648(00)00357-4	journal	May 2000
Materials challenges in nuclear energy Zinkle, S. J.; Was, G. S. Acta Materialia, Vol. 61, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2012.11.004	journal	February 2013
Effect of neutron irradiation on select MAX phases Tallman, Darin J.; Hoffman, Elizabeth N.; Caspi, El’ad N. Acta Materialia, Vol. 85 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2014.10.068	journal	February 2015
High temperature ion irradiation effects in MAX phase ceramics Clark, D. W.; Zinkle, S. J.; Patel, M. K. Acta Materialia, Vol. 105 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2015.11.055	journal	February 2016
A comparative study of low energy radiation responses of SiC, TiC and ZrC Jiang, M.; Xiao, H. Y.; Zhang, H. B. Acta Materialia, Vol. 110 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2016.03.011	journal	May 2016
An experimental study of helium diffusion and helium induced microstructural evolution in ion implanted polycrystalline titanium nitride Agarwal, S.; Trocellier, P.; Brimbal, D. Acta Materialia, Vol. 121 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2016.08.062	journal	December 2016
Helium induced microstructure damage, nano-scale grain formation and helium retention behaviour of ZrC Agarwal, Shradha; Bhattacharya, Arunodaya; Trocellier, Patrick Acta Materialia, Vol. 163 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2018.09.062	journal	January 2019
Fissile core and Tritium-Breeding Blanket: structural materials and their requirements Boutard, Jean-Louis; Alamo, Ana; Lindau, Rainer Comptes Rendus Physique, Vol. 9, Issue 3-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crhy.2007.11.004	journal	April 2008
Helium and point defect accumulation: (i) microstructure and mechanical behaviour Schäublin, Robin; Henry, Jean; Dai, Yong Comptes Rendus Physique, Vol. 9, Issue 3-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crhy.2008.01.003	journal	April 2008
Helium accumulation in metals during irradiation – where do we stand? Trinkaus, H.; Singh, B. N. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 323, Issue 2-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2003.09.001	journal	December 2003
Microstructural development in cubic silicon carbide during irradiation at elevated temperatures Katoh, Y.; Hashimoto, N.; Kondo, S. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 351, Issue 1-3, p. 228-240 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2006.02.007	journal	June 2006
Handbook of SiC properties for fuel performance modeling Snead, Lance L.; Nozawa, Takashi; Katoh, Yutai Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 371, Issue 1-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2007.05.016	journal	September 2007
Dislocation loop evolution under ion irradiation in austenitic stainless steels Etienne, A.; Hernández-Mayoral, M.; Genevois, C. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 400, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2010.02.009	journal	May 2010
Neutron-irradiation-induced crystalline defects in β-silicon nitride and their thermal stability Yano, Toyohiko; Yamagami, Tomoyuki; Yoshida, Katsumi Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 417, Issue 1-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2010.12.190	journal	October 2011
Irradiation creep of 3C–SiC and microstructural understanding of the underlying mechanisms Kondo, Sosuke; Koyanagi, Takaaki; Hinoki, Tatsuya Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 448, Issue 1-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2013.09.004	journal	May 2014
Defect kinetics and resistance to amorphization in zirconium carbide Zheng, Ming-Jie; Szlufarska, Izabela; Morgan, Dane Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 457 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2014.11.059	journal	February 2015
Effect of neutron irradiation on defect evolution in Ti3SiC2 and Ti2AlC Tallman, Darin J.; He, Lingfeng; Garcia-Diaz, Brenda L. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 468 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2015.10.030	journal	January 2016
Dimensional isotropy of 6H and 3C SiC under neutron irradiation Snead, Lance L.; Katoh, Yutai; Koyanagi, Takaaki Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 471 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.01.010	journal	April 2016
Effects of neutron irradiation of Ti3SiC2 and Ti3AlC2 in the 121–1085 °C temperature range Tallman, Darin J.; He, Lingfeng; Gan, Jian Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 484 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.11.016	journal	February 2017
TEM characterization of dislocations in TiB 2 particles after hypervelocity impact Guo, Q.; Li, J. F.; Hou, L. L. Micron, Vol. 67 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micron.2014.06.007	journal	December 2014
Effect of H and He irradiation on cavity formation and blistering in ceramics Zinkle, S. J. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, Vol. 286 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2012.03.030	journal	September 2012
Radiation effects in carbides: TiC and ZrC versus SiC Pellegrino, S.; Thomé, L.; Debelle, A. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, Vol. 327 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2013.11.046	journal	May 2014
Method for analyzing passive silicon carbide thermometry with a continuous dilatometer to determine irradiation temperature Campbell, Anne A.; Porter, Wallace D.; Katoh, Yutai Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, Vol. 370 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2016.01.005	journal	March 2016
Radiation-induced amorphization resistance and radiation tolerance in structurally related oxides Sickafus, Kurt E.; Grimes, Robin W.; Valdez, James A. Nature Materials, Vol. 6, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat1842	journal	February 2007
Swelling and microcracking of boron carbide subjected to fast neutron irradiations Stoto, T.; Housseau, N.; Zuppiroli, L. Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 68, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.346370	journal	October 1990
Defect aggregates in neutron-irradiated β-Si ₃ N ₄ Youngman, R. A.; Mitchell, T. E. Radiation Effects, Vol. 74, Issue 1-4 https://doi.org/10.1080/00337578308218420	journal	January 1983
A structural model of defects in β-Si ₃ N ₄ produced by neutron irradiation Akiyoshi, Masafumi; Yano, Toyohiko; Jenkins, M. L. Philosophical Magazine A, Vol. 81, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1080/01418610108212167	journal	March 2001
Damage in the cation sublattice of α-Al ₂ O ₃ irradiated in an HVEM Stathopoulos, A. Y.; Pells, G. P. Philosophical Magazine A, Vol. 47, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1080/01418618308245234	journal	March 1983
The influence of helium doping on the damage microstructure of heavy-ion irradiated α-Al ₂ O ₃ Lee, W. E.; Jenkins, M. L.; Pells, G. P. Philosophical Magazine A, Vol. 51, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1080/01418618508245279	journal	May 1985
High-resolution electron microscopy of neutron-irradiation-induced dislocations in SiC Yano, Toyohiko; Iseki, Takayoshi Philosophical Magazine A, Vol. 62, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1080/01418619008244788	journal	October 1990
Computer simulation of point defect properties in dilute Fe—Cu alloy using a many-body interatomic potential Ackland, G. J.; Bacon, D. J.; Calder, A. F. Philosophical Magazine A, Vol. 75, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1080/01418619708207198	journal	March 1997
A new type of defect on {1120} planes in ß-Si ₃ N ₄ produced by neutron irradiation Akiyoshi, Masafumi; Yano, Toyohiko Philosophical Magazine Letters, Vol. 81, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1080/09500830010024657	journal	April 2001
A hrem study of neutron-irradiation-induced dislocations in aluminium nitride Yano, Toyohiko; Iseki, Takayoshi Philosophical Magazine Letters, Vol. 62, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1080/09500839008203743	journal	August 1990
Early Damage Mechanisms in Nuclear Grade Graphite under Irradiation Eapen, J.; Krishna, R.; Burchell, T. D. Materials Research Letters, Vol. 2, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1080/21663831.2013.841782	journal	October 2013
Dramatic reduction of void swelling by helium in ion-irradiated high purity α -iron Bhattacharya, Arunodaya; Meslin, Estelle; Henry, Jean Materials Research Letters, Vol. 6, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1080/21663831.2018.1462266	journal	April 2018
Point Defects in Copper Johnson, R. A.; Brown, E. Physical Review, Vol. 127, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.127.446	journal	July 1962
Point-Defect Calculations for an fcc Lattice Johnson, R. A. Physical Review, Vol. 145, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.145.423	journal	May 1966
Defect clustering and self-healing of electron-irradiated boron-rich solids Carrard, M.; Emin, D.; Zuppiroli, L. Physical Review B, Vol. 51, Issue 17 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.51.11270	journal	May 1995
Atomistic study of intrinsic defect migration in 3C-SiC Gao, Fei; Weber, William J.; Posselt, M. Physical Review B, Vol. 69, Issue 24 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.69.245205	journal	June 2004
Evolution of Helium Platelets and Associated Dislocation Loops in α -SiC Chen, J.; Jung, P.; Trinkaus, H. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 82, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.82.2709	journal	March 1999
Stability and Mobility of Mono- and Di-Interstitials in α -Fe Fu, Chu-Chun; Willaime, F.; Ordejón, P. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 92, Issue 17 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.175503	journal	April 2004
Compound Formation in the Systems Lithium-Carbon and Lithium-Boron Secrist, D. R. Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol. 50, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.1967.tb14985.x	journal	October 1967
Microhardness of Single Crystals of BeO and Other Wurtzite Compounds Cline, Carl F.; Kahn, J. S. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Vol. 110, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2425870	journal	January 1963
Calculation of the neutron temperature in the WWR-M reactor channel by the maple software package Zinov’ev, V. G. Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences: Physics, Vol. 73, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.3103/S1062873809040182	journal	April 2009
Material properties of titanium diboride Munro, R. G. Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Vol. 105, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.6028/jres.105.057	journal	September 2000

Cited By (1)

Selection, processing, properties and applications of ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites, UHTCMCs – a review Binner, Jon; Porter, Matt; Baker, Ben International Materials Reviews, Vol. 65, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1080/09506608.2019.1652006	journal	September 2019

Similar Records

Neutron irradiation-induced microstructure damage in ultra-high temperature ceramic TiC

Journal Article · 2019 · Acta Materialia · OSTI ID:1649527

Agarwal, Shradha; Koyanagi, Takaaki; Bhattacharya, Arunodaya; +5 more

Response of ¹¹B enriched ZrB₂ ultra-high temperature ceramic to neutron irradiation at elevated temperatures

Journal Article · 2024 · Acta Materialia · OSTI ID:2376345

Lin, Yan-Ru; Koyanagi, Takaaki; Sprouster, David J.; +4 more

In situ transmission electron microscopy of electron-beam induced damage process in nuclear grade graphite

Journal Article · 2011 · Journal of Nuclear Materials · OSTI ID:1022745

Karthik, C; Kane, J; Butt, D P; +2 more

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
High resolution TEM
Implantation/irradiation
Titanium diboride (TiB2)
Transmission electron microscopy
Ultra-high temperature ceramics

Title: Nano-scale microstructure damage by neutron irradiations in a novel Boron-11 enriched TiB2 ultra-high temperature ceramic

Citation Formats

References (69)

Cited By (1)

Similar Records

Related Subjects

Title: Nano-scale microstructure damage by neutron irradiations in a novel Boron-11 enriched TiB₂ ultra-high temperature ceramic