In a selected area of irradiated UO2, fission created molybdenum was shown to adopt 2 different chemical forms (precipitate and in solid solution in UO2) whereas no significant thermally induced diffusion was noticeable. This behaviour was interpreted thanks to a point defect approach adapted to take into account irradiation effects. From this example, requirements needed for the development of irradiation relevant point defect modelling were derived.

Interpretation of the Molybdenum Behaviour in Irradiated UO2 using a Point Defect Approach. L.Desgranges, B.Pasquet, M.Fraczkiewicz: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 2008, 266[12-13], 3018-22