EFFECT OF GAMMA IRRADIATION AND THERMAL ANNEALING ON THE STRUCTURAL AND DEFECT PROPERTIES OF ZRB₂ CERAMICS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58225/sw.2026.1-15-24Keywords:
ZrB₂ ceramics, gamma irradiation, X-ray diffraction, PAS, vacancy-type defectsAbstract
This work examines the influence of gamma irradiation and subsequent thermal annealing on the structural and defect-related properties of zirconium diboride (ZrB₂) nanocrystals. The samples were irradiated with absorbed doses of 1500 and 3000 kGy and analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, and Doppler broadening spectroscopy. The results showed that ZrB₂ preserved its hexagonal structure without the formation of secondary phases, confirming its high radiation stability. At the same time, small shifts in diffraction peaks, slight lattice expansion, and changes in FTIR bands indicated local structural distortions and surface oxidation processes. Positron annihilation measurements revealed irradiation-induced modification of vacancy-type defects and redistribution of positron trapping centers. Electron momentum analysis also confirmed changes in the local electronic structure after irradiation. Overall, ZrB₂ demonstrates high resistance to gamma irradiation, while exhibiting limited but detectable structural and defect evolution.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Samir Samadov, Minh Trung Nguyen, Evgeni Popov, Anatoliy Sidorin (Author)
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