U.K.A.E.A. northern division studies of the radiolytic oxidation of graphite in carbon dioxide

✍ Scribed by B.T. Kelly; P.A.V. Johnson; P. Schofield; J.E. Brocklehurst; M. Birch

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1983
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 804 KB
• Volume: 21
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-6223
• DOI: 10.1016/0008-6223(83)90135-5

✦ Synopsis

The radiolytic oxidation of graphite in carbon dioxide cooled nuclear reactors is of great practical importance, but direct measurements of the oxidation of pores are very difficult. Progress has recently been made by studying the changes in permeability of graphite and the diffusivity ratio with oxidation in carbon dioxide with carbon monoxide and methane additives because these measurements provide several direct measures of pore size. The satisfactory modelling of these properties has encouraged application of the same model to carbon deposition in the graphite pores and to the weight loss. The initial application of the model to one graphite has been extended to other graphites successfully. The changes in Young's modulus, thermal resistivity and strength have been found to be= independent of the oxidation inhibitors for a given weight loss and apparently independent of the type of graphite-a highly useful result, but very surprising.