NSERC/NWMO/UNENE Industrial Research Chair in Radiation Induced Corrosion

核电提供了满足加拿大和许多其他工业化国家能源需求所需的电力的很大一部分。它是少数几项经过验证的技术之一，可以在不产生温室气体的情况下提供大规模的基本负荷电力。这一点在安大略省尤其重要，那里的核能已经提供了50%的电能消耗。核电厂的持续运作，可望成为我们未来平衡能源供应策略的一部分。公众接受核电的主要条件，是核反应堆的安全运作，以及实施长期储存乏核燃料的安全系统。在存在电离辐射的情况下，这两种需求都面临着潜在的腐蚀问题。这可能会影响反应堆结构和乏燃料废物容器的完整性和寿命。主席计划旨在开发知识和工具，以解决辐射诱导腐蚀引起的这些和其他问题。主席和她的团队之前建立了一个世界领先的辐射辅助腐蚀研究实验室。与西方、加拿大研究实验室和世界各地其他研究所的材料研究小组合作，进行了复杂的腐蚀研究。这导致了对：(1)稳态水辐射分解化学，(2)反应堆材料(碳钢、不锈钢和钴合金)的辐射诱导均匀腐蚀，以及(3)腐蚀后固体氧化物纳米颗粒的辐射分解形成的基本理解。在IRC计划的第三个任期，主席的研究将扩展到解决潮湿空气和受限体积中的辐射分解化学问题。它将重点关注焊接裂纹或裂缝等部位的腐蚀。这些环境在满足加拿大行业需求方面尤为重要。

Nuclear power provides a large fraction of the electricity needed to meet the energy requirements of Canada and many other industrialized countries. It is one of the few proven technologies that can supply large-scale base-load electricity without generating greenhouse gases. This is particularly important in the province of Ontario where nuclear power already supplies 50% of the electrical energy consumed. Sustained operation of nuclear power plants is expected to be a part of our future balanced energy supply strategy.Key requirements for public acceptance of nuclear power are the safe operation of reactors and the implementation of a safe system for the long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel. A challenge facing both of these needs is potential corrosion where ionizing radiation is present. This can affect the integrity and lifetimes of reactor structures and the spent fuel waste containers. The Chair program is aimed at developing the knowledge and tools to address these and other issues arising from radiation-induced corrosion.The Chair and her group have previously established a world-leading laboratory for radiation-assisted corrosion studies. In collaboration with materials research groups at Western, Canadian research laboratories, and other institutes around the world, sophisticated corrosion studies have been performed. This has led to fundamental understanding of: (1) steady-state water radiolysis chemistry, (2) radiation-induced uniform corrosion of reactor materials (carbon steel and stainless steel and cobalt alloys), and (3) the radiolytic formation of solid oxide nanoparticles following corrosion. In the 3rd term of the IRC program, the Chair's research will be extended to address radiolysis chemistry in humid air and confined volumes. It will focus on corrosion in locations such as weld cracks or crevices. These environments are particularly important in addressing Canadian industry needs.