Microstructure and mechanical properties of proton irradiated zirconium carbide

Zirconium carbide is a candidate ceramic being considered for metal-carbide-base composite-type fuels, as well as for an alternative coating material for TRISO particle fuels. Ensuring adequate mechanical properties and dimensional stability in response to radiation is a key part in developing a practical ZrC-base fuel. The existing available radiation response data for ZrC is limited and insufficient. In the present study, ZrC was irradiated with a 2.6 MeV proton beam at 800 °C to doses of 0.7 and 1.5 dpa. Following radiation, the radiation induced damage microstructure is comprised of a high density of nanometer-sized Frank loops, but no irradiation induced amorphization, voids, or precipitates were observed. A slight lattice expansion was found in the irradiated ZrC, in good agreement with the reported results from neutron irradiation. The changes in microhardness and fracture toughness properties induced in the irradiated samples were measured using indentation techniques. The hardness and the fracture toughness both increase with increasing radiation dose.