Tang, M.Kluth, PatrickZhang, J.Patel, M. K.Uberuaga, B. P.Olson Reichhardt, C. J.Sickafus, Kurt2015-12-102015-12-10August 30http://hdl.handle.net/1885/52270Swift gold ions (185 MeV) were used to systematically investigate the radiation damage response of delta phase compounds Sc4Zr 3O12 and Lu4Zr3O12 in the electronic energy loss regime. Ion irradiation-induced microstructural modifications were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD investigations indicate a phase transformation from ordered rhombohedral to disordered fluorite (O-D) in both compounds, with the Sc compound transforming at a higher ion fluence compared with the Lu compound. This result is consistent with our previous study on Sc 4Zr3O12 and Lu4Zr3O 12 under displacive radiation environment in which the nuclear energy loss is dominant. High resolution TEM revealed that individual ion tracks maintain crystalline structure, while the core region experiences an O-D phase transformation. TEM observations also suggest that for the doses in which the tracks overlap, the O-D phase transformation occurs across the entire ion range.Keywords: Ceramic oxides; Irradiation damage effects; Phase transformation; TEM; XRD; Ceramic materials; Electron energy loss spectroscopy; Energy dissipation; Irradiation; Radiation; Radiation damage; Scandium; Transmission electron microscopy; X ray diffraction; Ceramic oxides; Irradiation damage effects; Phase transformation; TEM; XRD201010.1016/j.nimb.2010.05.0992016-02-24