Constraint analysis of radiation-induced amorphizability of zirconate- and titanate-based nuclear wasteforms

Abstract

Pyrochlores have long been a target of researchers looking for ceramic materials that remain stable under high doses of radiation. However, its constituent atoms have a drastic effect on how stable the structure is. The focus of this paper is to explain how titanate pyrochlores are on average an order of magnitude less structurally stable than zirconate pyrochlores. This paper explores the effect of the 48f oxygen position parameter on the structural stability of pyrochlore under heavy ion irradiation. Pyrochlores with intermediate position parameters for oxygen in the 48f location are predicted to be most stable.