An Atomic-Scale Characterisation Facility for Active Nuclear Materials

活性核材料的原子级表征设施

• 批准号: EP/T011505/1
• 负责人: Michael Moody
• 金额: $ 487.44万
• 依托单位: University of Oxford
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2019 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FT011505%2F1
• 关键词: Atomic; Scale; Characterisation; Facility; Active

The design, build and maintenance of next generation fission and fusion reactors must be underpinned by research into how materials for their construction will degrade when exposed to the harsh reactor environment. This deterioration is largely driven by the extensive bombardment of high energy neutrons, which both damage the structure of the materials, and ultimately over extended periods can transform it, changing its properties. This process is initiated at the atomic level. Hence a better understanding of how the microstructure evolves, from this scale, under the combination of extreme temperature and irradiation conditions within the reactor, and correlating this to the deterioration of mechanical properties, is essential to predict safe operating lifetimes of critical components.This proposal is to establish a state-of-the-art Active Atom Probe Facility as a national user facility for UK researchers. Atom probe tomography (APT) is a type of microscopy that provides unique insight into 3D atomic distributions within materials at a scale that even the most advanced electron microscopes cannot routinely achieve. APT can be used to identify and characterise the very onset of irradiation-induced damage in nuclear materials. It is now an indispensable materials characterisation tool utilised in a wide variety of research and development into nuclear materials. APT is a destructive characterisation technique, meaning that when active specimens are analysed, during the experiment sample material will be deposited within the instrument. In the case of active materials, this represents serious logistical and safety concerns for the maintenance and operation of the instrument. Hence, for UK researchers to undertake such analyses routinely, effectively and safely requires the establishment of an APT facility dedicated to the characterisation of radioactive materials. The Active Atom Probe Facility represents a collaboration between the University of Oxford and the UKAEA's Materials Research Facility (MRF) to maximise the effectiveness of UK expertise and infrastructure. While the atom probe instrumentation will be installed at Oxford, prior to analysis APT specimens must be prepared from larger, significantly more radioactive samples. This will be undertaken utilising a Focused Ion Beam instrument to be installed at the MRF, which has the experience and facilities for safe handling, preparation and examination of irradiated reactor materials. This Active Atom Probe Facility will provide fully-supported access and training to scientists from UK academia and industry across every step of the APT experiment, from specimen preparation through to data analysis and interpretation of the results. Users of the new instruments will be trained to an expert level in all aspects of the technique, with an emphasis on all specific precautions required to undertake experiments radioactive materials. It will therefore play a key role in the development of the next generation of UK scientists who will contribute to re-establishing international leadership in nuclear materials research. Access to this unique capability will support research across a range of different stages in the fission and fusion nuclear energy cycle, including: design and manufacture of new irradiation resistant materials for next generation reactors, contributions to safety critical reactor monitoring, validating ion/proton irradiation as a neutron surrogate, developing effective, long-lasting waste storage solutions and steering research for future fusion plants.

下一代裂变和聚变反应堆的设计、建造和维护必须以研究其建造材料在暴露于恶劣的反应堆环境时如何降解为基础。这种恶化在很大程度上是由高能中子的广泛轰击驱动的，这两种中子都会破坏材料的结构，并最终在长时间内改变它，改变它的性质。这个过程是在原子级开始的。因此，如何更好地了解微观结构的演变，从这个规模，在反应堆内的极端温度和辐射条件下的组合，并将其与机械性能的恶化，是至关重要的预测安全操作寿命的关键components.This建议是建立一个国家的最先进的主动原子探针设施作为英国研究人员的国家用户设施。原子探针断层扫描（APT）是一种显微镜，它提供了独特的洞察材料中的三维原子分布的规模，即使是最先进的电子显微镜也无法常规实现。APT可用于确定和监测核材料中辐照引起的损害的开始。它现在是一种不可或缺的材料表征工具，用于各种核材料的研究和开发。APT是一种破坏性表征技术，这意味着当分析活性样品时，在实验过程中，样品材料将沉积在仪器内。在活性材料的情况下，这对仪器的维护和操作表示严重的后勤和安全问题。因此，联合王国的研究人员若要定期、有效和安全地进行这种分析，就需要建立一个专门用于鉴定放射性材料特性的APT设施。主动原子探针设施代表了牛津大学和UKAEA材料研究设施（MRF）之间的合作，以最大限度地提高英国专业知识和基础设施的有效性。虽然原子探针仪器将安装在牛津大学，但在分析之前，必须从更大、放射性更强的样品中制备APT样品。这将利用将安装在MRF的聚焦离子束仪器进行，该仪器具有安全处理、准备和检查辐照反应堆材料的经验和设施。该主动原子探针设施将为英国学术界和工业界的科学家提供全面支持的访问和培训，涵盖APT实验的每一步，从样品制备到数据分析和结果解释。新仪器的使用者将接受技术所有方面的专家级培训，重点是进行放射性材料实验所需的所有具体预防措施。因此，它将在培养下一代联合王国科学家方面发挥关键作用，这些科学家将有助于重新确立核材料研究的国际领导地位。获得这种独特的能力将支持裂变和聚变核能循环中一系列不同阶段的研究，包括：为下一代反应堆设计和制造新的耐辐照材料，为安全临界反应堆监测做出贡献，验证离子/质子辐照作为中子替代物，开发有效，持久的废物储存解决方案，以及指导未来聚变工厂的研究。

项目成果

Atom probe tomography.

• DOI: 10.1038/s43586-021-00047-w
• 发表时间: 2021
• 期刊: NATURE REVIEWS METHODS PRIMERS
• 作者: Gault, Baptiste;Chiaramonti, Ann;Cojocaru-Miredin, Oana;Stender, Patrick;Dubosq, Renelle;Freysoldt, Christoph;Makineni, Surendra Kumar;Li, Tong;Moody, Michael;Cairney, Julie M.
• 通讯作者: Cairney, Julie M.

Chromium-based bcc-superalloys strengthened by iron supplements

• DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2023.119183
• 发表时间: 2023-07
• 期刊: Acta Materialia
• 影响因子: 9.4
• 作者: K. Ma;Thomas Blackburn;Johan P. Magnussen;Michael Kerbstadt;P. A. Ferreirós;T. Pinomaa;C. Hofer-

Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: 19th International Symposium

核工业中的锆：第十九届国际研讨会

• DOI: 10.1520/stp162220190016
• 发表时间: 2021
• 作者: Liu J

Linking microstructure to irradiation defects in advanced manufacture of steels

将微观结构与先进钢材制造中的辐照缺陷联系起来

• DOI: 10.5287/bodleian:xqpkjz01y
• 发表时间: 2021
• 作者: Carter M

APT and TEM study of behaviour of alloying elements in neutron-irradiated zirconium-based alloys

中子辐照锆基合金中合金元素行为的 APT 和 TEM 研究

• DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2021.114323
• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: Scripta Materialia
• 影响因子: 6
• 作者: Jenkins B