Stability of the structure of compact zirconium nitride ceramics to irradiation with high-energy xenon ions

X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) data demonstrate that irradiation with high-energy +24Xe136 ions causes no changes in the grain microstructure of compact zirconium nitride ceramics. According to Raman spectroscopy and high-resolution TEM data, the irradiated ceramics may have local distortions of the zirconium nitride lattice within regions on the order of the lattice parameter in size.