Study of the Resistance of Lithium-Containing Ceramics to Helium Swelling

The paper presents the results of studies of the resistance of lithium ceramics to helium swelling during its accumulation in the structure of the near-surface layer, and the identification of the three types of lithium ceramics most resistant to radiation degradation: Li<sub>4</sub>SiO&...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Artem L. Kozlovskiy, Dmitriy I. Shlimas, Daryn B. Borgekov, Maxim V. Zdorovets
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-01-01
Series:Ceramics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6131/7/1/4
_version_ 1797241691921448960
author Artem L. Kozlovskiy
Dmitriy I. Shlimas
Daryn B. Borgekov
Maxim V. Zdorovets
author_facet Artem L. Kozlovskiy
Dmitriy I. Shlimas
Daryn B. Borgekov
Maxim V. Zdorovets
author_sort Artem L. Kozlovskiy
collection DOAJ
description The paper presents the results of studies of the resistance of lithium ceramics to helium swelling during its accumulation in the structure of the near-surface layer, and the identification of the three types of lithium ceramics most resistant to radiation degradation: Li<sub>4</sub>SiO<sub>4</sub>, Li<sub>2</sub>TiO<sub>3</sub>, and Li<sub>2</sub>ZrO<sub>3</sub>. The simulation of helium swelling under high-dose irradiation was carried out by irradiation with He<sup>2+</sup> ions with fluences of 1 × 10<sup>16</sup> ion/cm<sup>2</sup>–5 × 10<sup>17</sup> ion/cm<sup>2</sup>, which allows for simulating the implanted helium accumulation with a high concentration in the damaged surface layer (about 500 nm thick). The samples were irradiated at a temperature of 1000 K, the choice of which was determined by the possibility of simulating radiation damage as close as possible to real operating conditions. Such accumulation can result in the formation of gas-filled bubbles. Through the application of X-ray phase analysis, indentation testing, and thermophysical parameter assessments, it was ascertained that among the three ceramic types, Li<sub>4</sub>SiO<sub>4</sub> ceramics exhibit the highest resistance to helium-induced swelling. These ceramics experienced less significant alterations in their properties compared to the other two types. An analysis of the correlation between the structural and strength parameters of lithium-containing ceramics revealed that the most significant changes occur when the volumetric swelling of the crystal lattice becomes the dominant factor in structural alterations. This phenomenon is manifested as an accelerated degradation of strength characteristics, exceeding 10%. At the same time, analysis of these alterations in the stability of thermophysical parameters to the accumulation of structural distortions revealed that, regardless of the type of ceramics, the degradation of thermophysical properties is most pronounced under high-dose irradiation (above 10<sup>17</sup> ion/cm<sup>2</sup>).
first_indexed 2024-04-24T18:27:21Z
format Article
id doaj.art-da67ce1c27024037a2e08ba750870f2d
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2571-6131
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-24T18:27:21Z
publishDate 2024-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Ceramics
spelling doaj.art-da67ce1c27024037a2e08ba750870f2d2024-03-27T13:30:46ZengMDPI AGCeramics2571-61312024-01-0171395410.3390/ceramics7010004Study of the Resistance of Lithium-Containing Ceramics to Helium SwellingArtem L. Kozlovskiy0Dmitriy I. Shlimas1Daryn B. Borgekov2Maxim V. Zdorovets3Laboratory of Solid State Physics, The Institute of Nuclear Physics, Almaty 050032, KazakhstanLaboratory of Solid State Physics, The Institute of Nuclear Physics, Almaty 050032, KazakhstanLaboratory of Solid State Physics, The Institute of Nuclear Physics, Almaty 050032, KazakhstanLaboratory of Solid State Physics, The Institute of Nuclear Physics, Almaty 050032, KazakhstanThe paper presents the results of studies of the resistance of lithium ceramics to helium swelling during its accumulation in the structure of the near-surface layer, and the identification of the three types of lithium ceramics most resistant to radiation degradation: Li<sub>4</sub>SiO<sub>4</sub>, Li<sub>2</sub>TiO<sub>3</sub>, and Li<sub>2</sub>ZrO<sub>3</sub>. The simulation of helium swelling under high-dose irradiation was carried out by irradiation with He<sup>2+</sup> ions with fluences of 1 × 10<sup>16</sup> ion/cm<sup>2</sup>–5 × 10<sup>17</sup> ion/cm<sup>2</sup>, which allows for simulating the implanted helium accumulation with a high concentration in the damaged surface layer (about 500 nm thick). The samples were irradiated at a temperature of 1000 K, the choice of which was determined by the possibility of simulating radiation damage as close as possible to real operating conditions. Such accumulation can result in the formation of gas-filled bubbles. Through the application of X-ray phase analysis, indentation testing, and thermophysical parameter assessments, it was ascertained that among the three ceramic types, Li<sub>4</sub>SiO<sub>4</sub> ceramics exhibit the highest resistance to helium-induced swelling. These ceramics experienced less significant alterations in their properties compared to the other two types. An analysis of the correlation between the structural and strength parameters of lithium-containing ceramics revealed that the most significant changes occur when the volumetric swelling of the crystal lattice becomes the dominant factor in structural alterations. This phenomenon is manifested as an accelerated degradation of strength characteristics, exceeding 10%. At the same time, analysis of these alterations in the stability of thermophysical parameters to the accumulation of structural distortions revealed that, regardless of the type of ceramics, the degradation of thermophysical properties is most pronounced under high-dose irradiation (above 10<sup>17</sup> ion/cm<sup>2</sup>).https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6131/7/1/4lithium ceramicsradiation embrittlementgas swellingdegradationtritiumstrength properties
spellingShingle Artem L. Kozlovskiy
Dmitriy I. Shlimas
Daryn B. Borgekov
Maxim V. Zdorovets
Study of the Resistance of Lithium-Containing Ceramics to Helium Swelling
Ceramics
lithium ceramics
radiation embrittlement
gas swelling
degradation
tritium
strength properties
title Study of the Resistance of Lithium-Containing Ceramics to Helium Swelling
title_full Study of the Resistance of Lithium-Containing Ceramics to Helium Swelling
title_fullStr Study of the Resistance of Lithium-Containing Ceramics to Helium Swelling
title_full_unstemmed Study of the Resistance of Lithium-Containing Ceramics to Helium Swelling
title_short Study of the Resistance of Lithium-Containing Ceramics to Helium Swelling
title_sort study of the resistance of lithium containing ceramics to helium swelling
topic lithium ceramics
radiation embrittlement
gas swelling
degradation
tritium
strength properties
url https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6131/7/1/4
work_keys_str_mv AT artemlkozlovskiy studyoftheresistanceoflithiumcontainingceramicstoheliumswelling
AT dmitriyishlimas studyoftheresistanceoflithiumcontainingceramicstoheliumswelling
AT darynbborgekov studyoftheresistanceoflithiumcontainingceramicstoheliumswelling
AT maximvzdorovets studyoftheresistanceoflithiumcontainingceramicstoheliumswelling