Heavy ion irradiation damage in Zr₂AlC MAX phase

Zr₂AlC MAX phase-based ceramic material with 33 wt% ZrC has been irradiated with 22 MeV Au⁷⁺ ions between room temperature and 600 °C, achieving a maximum nominal midrange dose of 3.5 displacements per atom. The response of the material to irradiation has been studied using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Under room temperature irradiation, the ions caused a partial amorphisation of the MAX phase. At high temperatures, irradiated Zr₂AlC remained crystalline, but developed an increased density of dislocations and stacking faults in the (0001) basal planes. The irradiated material also exhibited a temperature-dependent microcracking phenomenon similar to that previously reported in other MAX phase materials.