Computer simulation of ferroelectric property changes in PLZT ceramics under neutron irradiation

The response of ferroelectric materials to high energy irradiation is of great interest because of their possible application in radiation environments such as thermonuclear reactors. In the present work a physical model for the defect evolution in PLZT ceramics under neutron irradiation and annealing is proposed. The influence of the defect system on the ferroelectric properties of these materials has been investigated. Satisfactory agreement between the theoretical estimated oxygen defect concentration after irradiation and annealing and the experimentally determined polarization has been obtained.