Microstructural evolution of TiC nano powders under fast neutron irradiation: A multi-technique analysis

In this work, titanium carbide nano powders were irradiated at normal conditions of 293.15 K and 1 atm with fluencies of 4.0 × 1012 n/cm2, 8.0 × 1012 n/cm2, 1.3 × 1013 n/cm2, 4.0 × 1014 n/cm2, and 1015 n/cm2 (neutron energy 1 MeV). The microstructure of the titanium carbide nano powders after irradiation was examined using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and FTIR spectroscopic analysis methods. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that no significant phase transition or amorphization occurred in the TiC nano powders exposed to fast neutrons. More sensitive results obtained from the FTIR analysis showed that the water molecules absorbed on the material surface were disintegrated under the influence of fast neutrons. Exceptional structural stability to neutron irradiation of titanium carbide without amorphization was also observed by morphological analysis via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SEAD).