Relationship between ion irradiation-induced amorphization and volume expansion in quartz and feldspars for concrete aggregates

Ion-irradiated quartz, albite, and microcline were analyzed to understand the mechanism of neutron irradiation degradation of concrete structures in nuclear power plants for long-term operation. While mineral amorphization has previously been directly associated with the expansion of concrete aggregates, our study showed that volume expansion is more pronounced after crystalline structures become amorphous. The temperature dependence of volume expansion correlated well with the recovery of unpaired electrons and viscous flow of the amorphized quartz.