Radiation effects on MgAl2O4-stabilized ZrO2 composite material under He+ or Xe2+ ion irradiation

Abstract The damage evolution processes in polycrystalline MgAl 2 O 4 –yttria-stabilized ZrO 2 (YSZ) composite materials were studied in a TEM. The irradiations were performed with 60 keV Xe 2+ ions at a flux of 5 × 10 12 ions/cm 2 s or 35 keV He + ions at a flux of 5 × 10 13 ions/cm 2 s at room temperature and 650°C, respectively. Preferential bubble formation at grain boundaries was observed in all irradiation conditions. Stress associated with the different swelling rate between MgAl 2 O 4 and YSZ grains would cause the grain boundary cracking. Differences in damage accumulation process between MgAl 2 O 4 and YSZ grains were clearly shown under He + ion irradiation at 650°C. Bubbles in YSZ grains remarkably grew large by coalescence during annealing process compared to those in MgAl 2 O 4 grains.