Diffusion and Transmutation in Zirconium Diboride
The layered structure also provides a plane for diffusion to occur. An example of this is helium migration. He is formed as a transmutation product of boron-10 (along with Li) and will rapidly migrate through the lattice between the layers of zirconium and boron, however not in the 'z' direction. Of interest, the other transmutation product, lithium, is likely to be trapped in the boron vacancies that are produced by the boron-10 transmutation and not be released from the lattice.
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