Structural Materials
The safety of nuclear reactors critically depends on the mechanical behavior of structural materials under harsh environmental conditions (neutron irradiation, high temperatures). In the framework of the program NUSAFE (Nuclear Waste Management, Safety and Radiation Research) of the Helmholtz Association we conduct the multi-scale characterization of irradiated reactor materials. Our focus:
- Long-term irradiation effects in reactor pressure vessel steels of running and new-build reactors in the context of lifetime extension
- Assessment of the irradiation tolerance of innovative materials for future reactor concepts (e.g. ferritic/martensitic Cr-steels, oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steels, the emerging class of high-entropy alloys)
The methodical spectrum covers the full functional chain from nm-scale irradiation-induced defects to macroscopic mechanical properties and aims at the identification of damage mechanisms and unravelling structure-property relationships. The new insight substantially contributes to the scientific background for the safety assessment of nuclear reactors. The research relies on a unique infrastructure including the hot cell labs for the investigation of neutron-irradiated materials as well as the HZDR Ion beam Centre for ion irradiation experiments.
Our expertise:
- Mechanical testing of irradiated materials
- Nano-/Microstructure characterization of irradiated materials
- Ion irradiation to emulate neutron irradiation effects
Current projects
- INNUMAT (EU HORIZON-EURATOM, 2022-2026)
- ENTENTE (EU-H2020-Euratom, 2020-2024)
- FRACTESUS (EU-H2020-Euratom, 2020-2024)
- STRUMAT-LTO (EU-H2020-Euratom, 2020-2024)
- WetAnnealing (BMWI, 2020-2025)
- IOANIS 2 (EERA-JPNM Pilote Project, 2023 - 2027)
- INSITEX (EERA-JPNM Pilote Project, 2023 - 2027)
- SHERPA (EERA-JPNM Pilote Project, 2023 - 2027)
Latest Publication
Understanding the effect of phosphorous on the ion-irradiation behaviour of RPV model steels using atom probe tomography and nanoindentation
Sharma, D.; Etienne, A.; Henry, R.; Kaden, C.; Picor, M.; Radiguet, B.
Understanding the formation of the embrittling Mn-Ni-Si (MNS)-rich clusters in reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels is of economic, environmental, and safety importance. Hence we investigated the influence of phosphorous (P) on the formation of MNS-rich clusters in RPV model steels employing atom probe tomography and nanoindentation tests. The atom probe tomography results show that the average number density and volume fraction of clusters decrease slightly with an increase in the bulk P content; however, higher bulk P led to a slight increase in the average diameter of the clusters. A higher amount of bulk P led to higher Cu in the clusters; suggesting synergy between Cu and P. An increase in the irradiation hardening values was observed due to higher bulk P content. This is attributed to the stabilisation of the self-interstitial atoms (SIA) clusters by P. A higher recovery for the sample containing higher bulk P indicated that the SIA clusters dissolved after post-irradiation annealing.
Keywords: Reactor pressure vessel steels; Irradiation effects; Atom probe tomography; Solute clustering; Hardening
Involved research facilities
- Ion Beam Center DOI: 10.17815/jlsrf-3-159
Related publications
- DOI: 10.17815/jlsrf-3-159 is cited by this (Id 37752) publication
-
Acta Materialia 270(2024), 119859
DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2024.119859
Team
Head | |||||
Name | Bld./Office | +49 351 260 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dr. Eberhard Altstadt | 801/P151 | 2276 | e.altstadthzdr.de | ||
Dr. Cornelia Kaden | 801/P102 | 3431 | c.kaden@hzdr.de, c.heintzehzdr.de | ||
Employees | |||||
Name | Bld./Office | +49 351 260 | |||
Dr. Frank Bergner | 801/P150 | 3186 | f.bergnerhzdr.de | ||
Dr. Jann-Erik Brandenburg | 801/P152 | 2301 | j.brandenburghzdr.de | ||
Dr. Paul Chekhonin | 801/P146 | 2149 | p.chekhoninhzdr.de | ||
Vanessa Dykas | 801/P105 | 3363 | v.dykashzdr.de | ||
Mario Houska | 801/P148 | 2242 | m.houskahzdr.de | ||
Libang Lai | 801/P153 | 3032 | l.laihzdr.de | ||
Jens Pietzsch | 801/P032 | 2814 3550 | jens.pietzschhzdr.de | ||
Dr. Andreas Ulbricht | 801/P146 | 3155 | a.ulbrichthzdr.de | ||
Tilo Welz | 801/P032 | 2814 | t.welzhzdr.de |