Radiation-induced electrical conductivity in aluminium nitride ceramic

The electrical conductivity of aluminium nitride ceramics, doped with 8 wt% Y sub 3 O sub 3 and obtained from fine raw powders synthesized in plasma, was measured with and without gamma-neutron irradiation (the maximum fast neutron flux was 3mult10 exp 15 n/m exp 2 s and in the gamma-dose rate range of 10 exp 3 - 10 exp 6 Gy /h) in the temperature range of 40-400 deg C. The electrical conductivity at room temperature was 10 exp -12 S/m and temperature-induced increase of conductivity has an activation energy of 1.06 eV at a temperature range of above 160 deg C. Radiation-induced conductivity obeys the usual power law dependence on gamma-ray dose rate. The electrical conductivity at high dose rate is less than 10 exp -6 S/m and is little dependent on temperature.