The role of thermal heating on the radiation-deformation evolution of the surface layers of ZrO2 – SiC ceramics under irradiation with He2+ ions

R. Yelshibekov, Artem L. Kozlovskiy, Daryn B. Borgekov, R. I. Shakirzyanov

Open Ceramics, 2026

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DOI 10.1016/j.oceram.2026.100955
Data confidence 70 medium
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Abstract

The paper presents the assessment results of the influence of changes in irradiation temperature on the degradation of the near-surface layer of (1-x)ZrO 2 – xSiC ceramics under high-dose irradiation with He 2+ ions. Using X-ray diffraction methods and methods for assessment of strength parameters, the role of temperature effects on the diffusion processes of defect migration in the near-surface layer, which leads to increased deformation and softening of the near-surface layer, was determined. During the studies conducted, it was established that deformation distortions play a dominant role in structural changes, while the degree of deformation has a direct dependence on the irradiation fluence and irradiation temperature, at which an increase in the swelling effect by more than 2 – 2.5 times is observed for ZrO 2 ceramics. It has been established that the addition of SiC to the composition of composite ceramics leads to the inhibition of deformation distortions due to the presence of interphase boundaries created by a solid solution of a mixture of three phases. Moreover, it was established that at irradiation fluences of 3 × 10 17 - 5 × 10 17 ion/cm 2 , the formation of amorphous-like inclusions is observed in the composition of the near-surface layer, the presence of which is due to the accumulation of gas inclusions at a high concentration of helium. Analysis of changes in strength characteristics showed that a change in the irradiation temperature from 300 to 1000 K leads to an increase in the effect of diffusion migration of defects deep into the sample, which in turn leads to a pronounced softening of the near-surface layer and an increase in the layer thickness by more than 1.3 - 1.5 times. The established patterns of the influence of phase composition on the kinetics of accumulation of radiation-induced defects and gas swelling make it possible to purposefully select optimal ratios of components that provide increased resistance to deformation distortions during the accumulation of helium in the near-surface layers of ceramics - materials of inert matrices of dispersed nuclear fuel.