Raman spectra and nano-indentation of Ar-irradiated borosilicate glass

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms Beam interactions with materials and atoms, 2013-12, Vol.316, p.218-221
• Main Authors: Zhang, G.F., Wang, T.S., Yang, K.J., Chen, L., Zhang, L.M., Peng, H.B., Yuan, W., Tian, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Borosilicate glass; Irradiation; Nano-hardness; Raman
• ISSN: 0168-583X; 1872-9584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nimb.2013.09.020

The structural evolutions of a commercial borosilicate glass induced by 2MeV Ar irradiation have been studied by Raman spectroscopy, and the modification of the mechanical properties has been investigated with nano-indentation tests. The main peaks at approximately 480cm−1 in the Raman spectra were found to be shifted toward higher wave numbers after irradiation, which means a decrease of the Si–O–Si bond angle. A weak band, which is called a D2 “defect” peak, appears in the Raman spectra of irradiated glasses. A higher concentration of O2 molecules is found in the irradiated glasses; however, the polymerization of the irradiated glass network has not been changed compared with the pristine glass. The mean hardness of the glasses is decreased up to 17% after irradiation, and the variation of the hardness saturates after the deposited nuclear energy reaches approximately 5.5×1020keVnuclcm−3.