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 characterize irradiated reactor materials from the nm-scale to the macro-scale. 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 including nuclear fusion (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, better understanding and mitigation of irradiation effects. 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 Center 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
- Innovative structural materials for fission and fusion
(INNUMAT, EU, HORIZON-EURATOM, 2022-2026) - European Database for Multiscale Modelling of Radiation Damage
(ENTENTE, EU-H2020-Euratom, 2020-2024) - Fracture mechanics testing of irradiated RPV steels by means of sub-sized specimens
(FRACTESUS, EU-H2020-Euratom, 2020-2024) - Structural Materials research for safe Long Term Operation of LWR NPPs
(STRUMAT-LTO, EU-H2020-Euratom, 2020-2024) - Untersuchungen zum Ausheilverhalten von Reaktordruckbehälterstählen bei niedrigen Temperaturen
(WetAnnealing, BMWI, 2020-2025) - Physical modelling and modelling-oriented experiments for structural materials 2
(IOANIS2, EERA-JPNM Pilote Project, 2023 - 2027, coordinator HZDR) - In-situ experiments for nuclear applications
(INSITEX, EERA-JPNM Pilote Project, 2023 - 2027) - On the use of small punch as high-throughput screening technique to extract mechanical properties of ion irradiated materials
(SHERPA, EERA-JPNM Pilote Project, 2023 - 2027)
Latest Publication
International Round Robin on Ion Irradiation of Alloy T91 and Comparison with Neutron Irradiation
Was, G. S.; Cabet, C.; Kaden, C.; Hernández Mayoral, M.; Pareige, C.; Bhattacharyya, D.; David, C.; Hardie, C.; Terentyev, D.; Weber, W.; Wei, T.; Naab, F.; Pauly, V.
Abstract
An international collaboration was established as a Coordinated Research Project (CRP) under the IAEA and entitled Accelerator Simulation and Theoretical Modelling of Radiation Effects-II (SMoRE-II). It was created to determine, by way of a Round Robin process, the degree to which ion irradiations produced the same irradiated microstructure when conducted in different labs on the same alloy and provided with the same irradiation protocol. The Round Robin consisted of 13 participating organizations from 9 IAEA member states with ion irradiations conducted at all CRP partner sites on samples of a single alloy (T91) from a single billet with the same thermal-mechanical history, and with a specific protocol for conducting the irradiations. Of the 14 parameters specified for the ion irradiations, only 1 of 12 facilities was able to follow the protocol exactly. Major differences included vacuum pressure, temperature measurement and control, beam mode (raster-scanning vs. steady beam), and dosimetry. The microstructure features characterized were the sizes and number densities of cavities,
dislocation loops, precipitates, and the radiation induced segregation. While loop size and
number density appeared to correlate with carbon content, no such correlation was identified
for cavities. The divergence from the irradiation protocol undoubtedly affected the irradiated
microstructure with carbon contamination occurring in most cases. The cavity, dislocation loop
and precipitate microstructures all fell within the range of that in the literature. Additionally, a
T91 sample that was irradiated to 47 dpa at 376°C in the BOR-60 reactor was selected for
comparison of the microstructure to those in the Round Robin study.
Keywords: Round Robin; ion irradiation; IAEA CRP; microstructure; neutron irradiation; ion beam analysis
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 41287) publication
-
Journal of Nuclear Materials 616(2025), 156065
DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156065
Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-41287
Team
Head | |||||
| Name | Bld./Office | +49 351 260 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Eberhard Altstadt | 801/P151 | 2276 | e.altstadt | ||
| Dr. Cornelia Kaden | 801/P102 | 3431 | c.kaden@hzdr.de, c.heintze | ||
Employees | |||||
| Name | Bld./Office | +49 351 260 | |||
| Dr. Frank Bergner | 801/P150 | 3186 | f.bergner | ||
| Dr. Paul Chekhonin | 801/P146 | 2149 | p.chekhonin | ||
| Vanessa Dykas | 801/P105 | 3363 | v.dykas | ||
| Mario Houska | 801/P148 | 2242 | m.houska | ||
| Jens Pietzsch | 801/P032 | 2814 3550 | jens.pietzsch | ||
| Dr. Andreas Ulbricht | 801/P146 | 3155 | |||
| Wolfgang Webersinke | 801/P148 | 2766 2129 | w.webersinke | ||
| Tilo Welz | 801/P032 | 2814 | t.welz | ||
Latest publication
International Round Robin on Ion Irradiation of Alloy T91 and Comparison with Neutron Irradiation
Was, G. S.; Cabet, C.; Kaden, C.; Hernández Mayoral, M.; Pareige, C.; Bhattacharyya, D.; David, C.; Hardie, C.; Terentyev, D.; Weber, W.; Wei, T.; Naab, F.; Pauly, V.
Abstract
An international collaboration was established as a Coordinated Research Project (CRP) under the IAEA and entitled Accelerator Simulation and Theoretical Modelling of Radiation Effects-II (SMoRE-II). It was created to determine, by way of a Round Robin process, the degree to which ion irradiations produced the same irradiated microstructure when conducted in different labs on the same alloy and provided with the same irradiation protocol. The Round Robin consisted of 13 participating organizations from 9 IAEA member states with ion irradiations conducted at all CRP partner sites on samples of a single alloy (T91) from a single billet with the same thermal-mechanical history, and with a specific protocol for conducting the irradiations. Of the 14 parameters specified for the ion irradiations, only 1 of 12 facilities was able to follow the protocol exactly. Major differences included vacuum pressure, temperature measurement and control, beam mode (raster-scanning vs. steady beam), and dosimetry. The microstructure features characterized were the sizes and number densities of cavities,
dislocation loops, precipitates, and the radiation induced segregation. While loop size and
number density appeared to correlate with carbon content, no such correlation was identified
for cavities. The divergence from the irradiation protocol undoubtedly affected the irradiated
microstructure with carbon contamination occurring in most cases. The cavity, dislocation loop
and precipitate microstructures all fell within the range of that in the literature. Additionally, a
T91 sample that was irradiated to 47 dpa at 376°C in the BOR-60 reactor was selected for
comparison of the microstructure to those in the Round Robin study.
Keywords: Round Robin; ion irradiation; IAEA CRP; microstructure; neutron irradiation; ion beam analysis
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 41287) publication
-
Journal of Nuclear Materials 616(2025), 156065
DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.156065
Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-41287
Team
Head | |||||
| Name | Bld./Office | +49 351 260 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Eberhard Altstadt | 801/P151 | 2276 | e.altstadt | ||
| Dr. Cornelia Kaden | 801/P102 | 3431 | c.kaden@hzdr.de, c.heintze | ||
Employees | |||||
| Name | Bld./Office | +49 351 260 | |||
| Dr. Frank Bergner | 801/P150 | 3186 | f.bergner | ||
| Dr. Paul Chekhonin | 801/P146 | 2149 | p.chekhonin | ||
| Vanessa Dykas | 801/P105 | 3363 | v.dykas | ||
| Mario Houska | 801/P148 | 2242 | m.houska | ||
| Jens Pietzsch | 801/P032 | 2814 3550 | jens.pietzsch | ||
| Dr. Andreas Ulbricht | 801/P146 | 3155 | |||
| Wolfgang Webersinke | 801/P148 | 2766 2129 | w.webersinke | ||
| Tilo Welz | 801/P032 | 2814 | t.welz | ||

