Characterizing Irradiation Degradation in Nuclear Power Systems: Eliminating Artefacts

女王大学的两名专业人员正在寻求对辐射对腐蚀和应力腐蚀开裂的影响进行机械理解。RMTL设施的存在使他们的研究成为可能（www.rmtl.ca）；该设施使女王大学成为世界上为数不多的能够对材料进行大量辐射损伤的大学之一。RMTL的质子加速器使我们能够直接产生与实际工程关注的高辐射环境中发现的损伤相当的损伤，例如在核反应堆内或地外空间。辐照引起的微观结构和微观化学的变化改变了随后的腐蚀和腐蚀开裂现象。此外，许多腐蚀或腐蚀开裂反应发生在远离空气的地方（例如在水中）。一旦从腐蚀性环境中移除，任何随后的暴露在空气中都会引入氧化产物，从而阻止后续的扫描电子显微镜（SEM）分析，我们需要使用扫描电子显微镜来帮助我们解释局部机制。因此，共同申请人要求资助购买惰性气体手套箱和转移系统，以便在保持惰性环境的情况下制备样品并随后转移到SEM。由于样品将受到辐照，因此具有放射性，因此该惰性系统将位于RMTL设施内，这是一个多用户设施，因此将可供所有RMTL用户使用。

Two PIs at Queen's are seeking to to develop a mechanistic understanding of irradiation effects on corrosion and stress corrosion cracking. Their studies are made possible by the presence of the RMTL facility (www.rmtl.ca); this facility make Queen's one of the few universities in the world capable of introducing significant levels of irradiation damage into materials. The proton accelerator at RMTL allows us to generate damage directly comparable to the damage found in high radiation environments of practical engineering concern, for example inside a nuclear reactor or in extraterrestrial space. The changes in microstructure and microchemistry caused by irradiation alter subsequent corrosion and corrosion-cracking phenomena. Further, many corrosion or corrosion-cracking reactions occur away from air (e.g. in water). Once removed from the corrosive environment, any subsequent exposure to air can introduce oxidation artifacts that prevent subsequent Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis, which we need to use to assist in our interpretations of local mechanisms. The co-applicants are therefore requesting funding to purchase an inert gas glovebox and transfer system that allows preparation of samples and subsequent transfer to an SEM while maintaining an inert environment. Since the samples will have been irradiated and hence radioactive, this inert system will be located within the RMTL facility, a multi-user facility, and hence will be available for all RMTL users.