Papers by Keyword: Nuclear Reactors

Abstract: The development of materials for core components which can serve in high temperature corrosive environments for a long service time is crucial to realize high efficiency and high-burnup operation of advanced nuclear reactors. Alumina forming austenitic (AFA) alloy is a kind of promising materials with improved corrosion resistance as well as strength at elevated temperature. The progress on the composition design and characterization of AFA alloys are reviewed in this work for evaluation their potential applications in advanced nuclear reactors. AFA alloys without the addition of carbon have been fabricated. Microstructures were observed by SEM and TEM. Mechanical properties were measured at room temperature and high temperature.

Abstract: Liquid Pb–Bi eutectic alloy has been selected as coolant and neutron spallation source for the development of MYRRHA, an accelerator driven system. The alloy has been characterized in liquid state from melting (125 °C) to 650 °C by mechanical spectroscopy. Experiments have been carried out using hollow reeds of austenitic stainless steel filled with the Pb-Bi alloy and sealed at the extremities. From 350 °C to 520 °C modulus shows a remarkable drop accompanied by a broad internal friction maximum. In the same temperature range radial distribution functions, determined from X-ray diffraction patterns, evidenced variations of the mean distance between the 1st nearest neighbour atoms. The anelastic phenomena have been attributed to a structural re-arrangement of liquid metal. For comparison, other alloys of the Pb-Bi system with hypo-eutectic composition have been investigated.

Abstract: Liquid Pb–Bi eutectic (LBE) alloy has been selected as coolant and neutron spallation source for the development of MYRRHA, an accelerator driven system (ADS). The alloy has been characterized in liquid state from melting (125 °C) to 750 °C by mechanical spectroscopy, i.e. internal friction (IF) and dynamic modulus measurements. The experiments have been carried out using hollow reeds of austenitic stainless steel filled with Pb-Bi alloy and sealed at the extremities. Dynamic modulus showed a remarkable drop in the range 350-520 °C. In the same temperature range radial distribution functions (RDFs), determined from X-ray diffraction patterns, evidenced variations of the mean distance between the 1st nearest neighbour atoms. The phenomenon has been explained as a structural re-arrangement of atoms in the liquid metal.