191. Neutron irradiation effects in boronated graphite

✍ Scribed by J.M Davidson; L.O Gates; R Neidner; G.B Engle

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1965
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 106 KB
• Volume: 3
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-6223
• DOI: 10.1016/0008-6223(65)90257-5

✦ Synopsis

Neutronradiation effects were studied in several types of boronated graphite used for control rods or fast-reactor shields. The boron was in the form of boron carbide in concentrations of nominally 5, 10 and 30 weight percent. The irradiations were conducted in incident thermal-to-fast flux ratios of 8, 1, and 0.1 to determine the effect of neutron spectra on damage. For thermally-rich spectra, lineal expansions of several percent were achieved at exposures of 2.5 x 10" neutrons/cm2.

Fast spectra produces less damage per unit exposure, consistent with predictions. A sensitivity to the temperature of irradiation was observed in the tested range of 300 to SOO"C, the lower temperature conditions producing more damage per unit exposure. The coefficients of thermal expansion and mechanical properties were measured and microscopy was performed on samples before and after irradiation. *Work performed for the Atomic Energy Commission at Battelle-Northwest under Contract AT(45-l)-1830 and at General Atomic under Contract AT(w3)-314.