Electron radiation damages to dicalcium (Ca2SiO4) and tricalcium (Ca3SiO5) orthosilicates
Résumé
Electron radiation damages to dicalcium silicate (Ca2SiO4) and tricalcium silicate (Ca3SiO5) are reported
for the first time in this paper. With increasing flux, between 2.7 x 1017 and 2.2 x1022 e- cm-2 s-1,
decomposition into nanodomains of crystalline CaO plus an amorphous silica rich phase is first observed
for both silicates, then amorphization at higher flux always for both silicates, and finally hole drilling but
only for Ca3SiO5. These structural modifications are accompanied by a net reduction of Ca content under
the electron beam depending on the silicate species. These radiation effects occur for values of flux and
dose larger than in previously studied orthosilicates (like olivines), and much larger than in all
tectosilicates.