Nanoindentation micro-pillar splitting was employed to measure the fracture toughness (KC) of growth-zones in radiation-damaged zircon with varying degrees of disorder (∼45%-80% amorphous fraction). The radiation-induced amorphization is caused by α-decay events from incorporated U and Th (∼0.22-0.43 wt. % UO2 and ∼0.02-0.08 wt. % ThO2). KC has been found to increase with the increase in the amorphous fraction (∼2.39 to 3.15 MPa*m1/2). There is a good correlation with the modulus/hardness (E/H) ratio evolution over the investigated zones. As zircon has been proposed as a nuclear waste form for the incorporation and disposal of Pu, a deeper knowledge of KC as a function of radiation damage is important, as radiation-induced cracking provides diffusion paths for the release of incorporated actinides. Zoned zircon provides a model for the development of multilayer coatings and complex ceramics that can be designed to be resistant to crack propagation.

Beirau, T., Rossi, E., Sebastiani, M., Oliver, W.C., Pollmann, H., Ewing, R.C. (2021). Fracture toughness of radiation-damaged zircon studied by nanoindentation pillar-splitting. APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 119(23), 231903 [10.1063/5.0070597].

Fracture toughness of radiation-damaged zircon studied by nanoindentation pillar-splitting

Rossi E.
Methodology
;
Sebastiani M.
Conceptualization
;
2021-01-01

Abstract

Nanoindentation micro-pillar splitting was employed to measure the fracture toughness (KC) of growth-zones in radiation-damaged zircon with varying degrees of disorder (∼45%-80% amorphous fraction). The radiation-induced amorphization is caused by α-decay events from incorporated U and Th (∼0.22-0.43 wt. % UO2 and ∼0.02-0.08 wt. % ThO2). KC has been found to increase with the increase in the amorphous fraction (∼2.39 to 3.15 MPa*m1/2). There is a good correlation with the modulus/hardness (E/H) ratio evolution over the investigated zones. As zircon has been proposed as a nuclear waste form for the incorporation and disposal of Pu, a deeper knowledge of KC as a function of radiation damage is important, as radiation-induced cracking provides diffusion paths for the release of incorporated actinides. Zoned zircon provides a model for the development of multilayer coatings and complex ceramics that can be designed to be resistant to crack propagation.
2021
Beirau, T., Rossi, E., Sebastiani, M., Oliver, W.C., Pollmann, H., Ewing, R.C. (2021). Fracture toughness of radiation-damaged zircon studied by nanoindentation pillar-splitting. APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 119(23), 231903 [10.1063/5.0070597].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11590/405861
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