Mechanical stresses induced in ceramic oxides by ion irradiation

The damage and the residual stresses induced by 4MeV Au ion irradiation in selected ceramic oxides (cubic zirconia and Gd2(Ti2−xZrx)O7 pyrochlores with x=1 and 2) were investigated by X-ray diffraction. The variations of the lattice parameter and of residual stresses upon irradiation were shown to depend on the compound. The highest compressive stresses, linked to the largest swelling, were found in amorphizable Gd2TiZrO7. A two-step process was observed in damage, swelling and stress build-ups for non-amorphizable oxides (zirconia and Gd2Zr2O7).