Abstract
In situ temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopic measurements of two partially amorphous (metamict) titanite samples with accumulated radiation doses ~1.2 × 10 18 α-events/g (E2335) and ~2.2 ×10 18 α-events/g (M28696) and amorphous fractions of 0.24 and 0.5, respectively, provide evidence for a thermally induced transformation analogous to the phase transition P 2 1 / c ↔ C 2/ c , which is characteristic of endmember titanite (CaTiSiO 5 ). Quantitative analysis of the temperature evolution of the wavenumbers and widths of Raman-active vibrations in both partially amorphous titanites reveals an anomaly near 500 K which is consistent with the P 2 1 / c ↔ C 2/ c phase-transition temperature of titanite close to its endmember composition. The observed spectral changes are not due to structural recovery of the radiation-damaged structure because synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiments of M28696 titanite show that relevant recrystallization occurs at annealing temperatures above 600 K. The structural transformation near 500 K is observed by Raman spectroscopy even in heavily radiation-damaged and chemically inhomogeneous titanite (M28696). The microstructure of the samples consists of coexisting crystalline and amorphous domains, with the P 2 1 / c to C 2/ c phase-transition occurring in the latter.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
