Structural Materials Division

We investigate the behavior of materials exposed to energetic particle irradiation. The work contributes to the program NUSAFE (Nuclear Waste Management, Safety and Radiation Research) of the Helmholtz Association, it is tightly integrated in international collaboration.

Neutron irradiation provokes the formation and long-term evolution of nm-scale defects such as dislocation loops and solute atom clusters. These defects give rise to hardening accompanied by a reduced fracture resistance of reactor pressure vessel steels of running nuclear power plants. Materials for advanced reactor concepts will be exposed to higher operation temperatures and higher doses of neutron irradiation.

The overall objectives of our research are to elucidate the mechanisms of irradiation-induced damage in Fe-based structural materials and to assess the resulting changes of the mechanical properties.

We work on two main directions:

• In the case of running nuclear power plants, we focus on long-term irradiation effects in reactor pressure vessel steels arising from life-time extensions beyond 40 years of operation.
• Our work in the field of advanced reactor concepts is focused on the emerging classes of ferritic/martensitic Cr-steels and oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steels.

The new insight substantially contributes to the scientific background for the safety assessment of nuclear reactors. The work is embedded in the Euratom projects SOTERIA, MATISSE and M4F. A close cooperation with the Fundamentals and Simulation Group provides additional insight to the processes at the nm scale via atomistic simulation.

Our expertise:

• Mechanical testing of irradiated materials
• Characterization at the nm length scale
• Use of ion irradiation to emulate neutron irradiation effects

Staff

Head
Name	Bld./Office	+49 351 260	Email
Altstadt Dr., Eberhard	801/P151	2276	e.altstadthzdr.de
Heintze Dr., Cornelia	801/P103	3431	c.heintzehzdr.de
Employees
Name	Bld./Office	+49 351 260	Email
Bergner Dr., Frank	801/P150	3186	f.bergnerhzdr.de
Das, Aniruddh	801/P103	2457	a.dashzdr.de
Duan, Binghuang	801/P153	2774	b.duanhzdr.de
Formanek Dr., Petr
Hilger, Isabell	801/P103	2565	i.hilgerhzdr.de
Houska, Mario	801/P148	2242	m.houskahzdr.de
Müller Dr., Gudrun	801/P146	2149 2350	g.muellerhzdr.de
Pietzsch, Jens	801/P032	2814 3550	jens.pietzschhzdr.de
Richter, Henry	801/P148	2972 2129	h.richterhzdr.de
Roßner, Michaela	801/P105	3363	m.rossnerhzdr.de
Rott, Sonja	801/P152	2780	s.rotthzdr.de
Skorupa, Ulrich	801/P127	2006 2814	u.skorupahzdr.de
Ulbricht Dr., Andreas	801/P146	3155	a.ulbrichthzdr.de
Viehrig Dr., Hans-Werner	801/P102	3246 2129	h.w.viehrighzdr.de
Vogel Dr., Karin	801/P103	2565	k.vogelhzdr.de
Webersinke, Wolfgang	801/P148	2766 2129	w.webersinkehzdr.de
Weiß, Rainer	801/P127	2301	r.weisshzdr.de