NSUF 20-3004: Ion Irradiation and TEM Characterization of Polymer Derived C-SiC-SiOC Nanocomposites

The effect of helium ion irradiation-induced displacement damage and implantation effects on microstructure and mechanical properties of novel polymer derived C-SiC-SiOC nanocomposites is not established in the current literature. This proposal aims to (1) understand the fundamental process of irradiation-induced damage evolution in C-SiC-SiOC nanocomposites using advanced TEM and picoindentation techniques, (2) understand the effect of irradiation temperature on the microstructural evolution, (3) compare the irradiation behaviors of C-rich and SiC-rich C-SiC-SiOC nanocomposites. The hypothesis of this proposal is that phase separation of SiOC systems into crystalline C, SiC and amorphous SiOC phases can produce radiation-tolerant microstructures involving crystalline/amorphous interfaces (C/SiOC, SiC/SiOC) that can act as defect sinks and amorphous SiOC matrix with high helium outgassing ability. The proposed work will involve ion irradiation on C-rich and SiC-rich C-SiC-SiOC nanocomposites using 100 keV He ion beam up to 20 dpa peak dose level and 50-60 at% peak He implantation at three different temperatures: room temperature, 400^oC and 800^oC. TEM characterization will be performed to study irradiation response of different phases in C-SiC-SiOC nanocomposites in terms of helium bubble formation, amorphization behavior, pair distribution function (PDF) analysis to reveal changes in short-range ordering in the amorphous SiOC matrix. This work will also study irradiation effects on the mechanical response of C-SiC-SiOC nanocomposites using picoindentation inside a FIB.

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Abstract The effect of helium ion irradiation-induced displacement damage and implantation effects on microstructure and mechanical properties of novel polymer derived C-SiC-SiOC nanocomposites is not established in the current literature. This proposal aims to (1) understand the fundamental process of irradiation-induced damage evolution in C-SiC-SiOC nanocomposites using advanced TEM and picoindentation techniques, (2) understand the effect of irradiation temperature on the microstructural evolution, (3) compare the irradiation behaviors of C-rich and SiC-rich C-SiC-SiOC nanocomposites. The hypothesis of this proposal is that phase separation of SiOC systems into crystalline C, SiC and amorphous SiOC phases can produce radiation-tolerant microstructures involving crystalline/amorphous interfaces (C/SiOC, SiC/SiOC) that can act as defect sinks and amorphous SiOC matrix with high helium outgassing ability. The proposed work will involve ion irradiation on C-rich and SiC-rich C-SiC-SiOC nanocomposites using 100 keV He ion beam up to 20 dpa peak dose level and 50-60 at% peak He implantation at three different temperatures: room temperature, 400^oC and 800^oC. TEM characterization will be performed to study irradiation response of different phases in C-SiC-SiOC nanocomposites in terms of helium bubble formation, amorphization behavior, pair distribution function (PDF) analysis to reveal changes in short-range ordering in the amorphous SiOC matrix. This work will also study irradiation effects on the mechanical response of C-SiC-SiOC nanocomposites using picoindentation inside a FIB.
Award Announced Date 2020-02-05T14:12:47.763
Awarded Institution None
Facility None
Facility Tech Lead Alina Zackrone, Lin Shao
Irradiation Facility Accelerator Laboratory
PI Kaustubh Bawane
PI Email [email protected]
Project Type RTE
RTE Number 3004