About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
Materials in Nuclear Energy Systems (MiNES) 2025
|
| Symposium
|
Materials in Nuclear Energy Systems (MiNES) 2025
|
| Presentation Title |
Depth-Resolved Elastic, Photoelastic and Stain Properties of Swift Heavy Ion Irradiated MgAl2O4 and Y3Al5O12 Ceramics |
| Author(s) |
Toreniyaz Shomenov, Vladimir Bessonov, Jacques O'Connell, Artem Kozlovskiy, Yanwei Wang, Zhandos Utegulov |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Toreniyaz Shomenov |
| Abstract Scope |
Depth-resolved assessment of elastic, photoelastic and strain behavior of nuclear ceramics exposed to fission products such as swift heavy ions (SHIs) is essential for qualification as radiation-tolerant structural materials and as nuclear sensors. This study investigates the depth-dependent elastic properties of MgAl₂O₄ (spinel) irradiated with 710 MeV Bi⁺ ions at fluences from 6×10¹⁰ to 10¹² ions/cm². Brillouin light scattering microscopy and density functional theory (DFT) simulations are combined to provide experimental and theoretical insight. DFT shows that point defects such as vacancies, interstitials, and antisite defects modify spinel’s elastic constants. In particular, antisite defects such as AlMg⁺ increase C₁₁ by ~5%, while vacancy defects reduce stiffness. For Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG), most defects decrease elasticity, though Y³⁺ interstitials increase C₁₂ by ~3.5%.
Brillouin microscopy reveals how compressional (C₁₁, C₂₂) and shear (C₄₄) moduli recover with depth in the regime dominated by electronic stopping (Sₑ ≫ Sₙ). It also captures depth-resolved changes in photoelastic (P₁₂) and strain behavior shaped by SHI track geometry. This recovery is linked to recrystallization along ion tracks, which mitigates swelling and restores mechanical integrity even in regions with high defect density. At the highest fluence (6×10¹² ions/cm²), overlapping tracks form a nanocomposite of crystalline and amorphous domains, reducing C₁₁ by ~10%. Together, the computational and experimental findings offer a robust framework for predicting radiation effects in spinel ceramics, while the divergent defect response in yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) offers new insights for designing radiation-tolerant ceramics. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |