Impurity Effects on the Swelling of Irradiated Aluminum Oxide

The role of impurity content in the irradiation of alumina has been investigated. The extra helium production from the impurities contributes only 2% or less of the helium production from pure alumina. It is concluded that the lower swelling indicative of higher purity alumina is probably due to its smaller grain size rather than a mechanism associated with the impurities per se.