Characterization of the Irradiation Effects in Nuclear Graphite

Conference · Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2019

OSTI ID:1559720

Arregui Mena, Jose'  ^[1]; Edmondson, Philip  ^[1]; Worth, Robert Numa ^[2]; Contescu, Cristian  ^[1]; Burchell, Timothy  ^[1]; Kato, Yutai  ^[1]

---

1. ORNL
2. University of Manchester

Graphite serves as the neutron moderator of British Gas-Cooled Reactors and is a candidate material for the Generation IV of nuclear power stations. The neutron irradiation affects the crystalline structure of graphite; this damage results in volumetric changes of the bulk material and generation of porosity. Dimensional changes induced by irradiation in graphite bricks can make difficult the refueling operations and reduce the stability of the graphite core. Some of the neutron irradiation damage mechanisms in the crystal lattice of graphite are not well understood. Results of TEM, SEM, FIB-SEM tomography, gas adsorption and optical microscopy will be combined to help understand how the irradiation affects graphite at multiple length scales. Furthermore, some new evidence of porosity and microstructural changes generated by irradiation will be presented.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1559720
• Resource Relation: Conference: TMS 2019: TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition - San Antonio, Texas, United States of America - 3/10/2019 9:00:00 AM-3/14/2019 8:00:00 AM
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English