Comprehensive study of changes in the optical, structural and strength properties of ZrO2 ceramics as a result of phase transformations caused by irradiation with heavy ions

This work is devoted to the study of effect irradiation with Kr15+ and Xe23+ heavy ions energies 147 220 MeV, respectively, on change in optical, structural strength properties ceramics ZrO2. Polycrystalline ZrO2 a tetragonal type crystal structure, which are highly resistant external influences, mechanical cracking, hardness were chosen as object research. The choice due possibility simulating nuclear fission fragments an atomic reactor, doses 1 × 1013–1 1014 ion/cm2 effects overlapping defect regions arising along trajectory material. Using X-ray diffraction method, it was found that case ions, increase radiation dose leads phase transformations lattice into cubic one. In this case, for samples irradiated at ion/cm2, almost complete transformation observed. Dependences changes optical characteristics load have been established.