Models and mechanisms of irradiation-induced amorphization in ceramics

A number of models have been developed to describe the various amorphization processes and the effects of temperature on the kinetics of amorphization. These models are reviewed and in some cases further developed. In general, these models contain a number of parameters relating to irradiation-assisted and thermal recovery processes, which make their application to existing data sets challenging. Nonetheless, general aspects of the models yield insights into the rate-limiting processes controlling the kinetics of amorphization within a given temperature regime. Several examples are used to illustrate features of the models and to highlight differences in behavior. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.