Extended positron‐trapping defects in insulating MgAl2O4 spinel‐type ceramics

Extended defects in insulating nanoporous MgAl2O4 spinel-type ceramics which trap positrons are characterized by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy before and after water-immersion treatment. It is shown that in both cases the same type of positron traps prevails, but positron trapping in defects near grain boundaries occurs more efficiently in water-moistened ceramics. It is shown the more perfect structure of ceramics, the more considerable changes occur in the positron trapping parameters of water-moistened ceramics. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)