Influence of neutron irradiation on the microstructure of nuclear graphite
An X-ray diffraction study
Zhou Zhou (TU Delft - RST/Neutron and Photon Methods for Materials)
W. G. Bouwman (TU Delft - RST/Neutron and Photon Methods for Materials)
H. Schut (TU Delft - RST/Neutron and Photon Methods for Materials)
T. O. van Staveren (NRG (Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group) Petten)
M. C R Heijna (NRG (Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group) Petten)
C. Pappas (TU Delft - RST/Neutron and Photon Methods for Materials)
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Abstract
Neutron irradiation effects on the microstructure of nuclear graphite have been investigated by X-ray diffraction on virgin and low doses (∼1.3 and ∼2.2 dpa), high temperature (750° C) irradiated samples. The diffraction patterns were interpreted using a model, which takes into account the turbostratic disorder. Besides the lattice constants, the model introduces two distinct coherent lengths in the c-axis and the basal plane, that characterise the volumes from which X-rays are scattered coherently. The methodology used in this work allows to quantify the effect of irradiation damage on the microstructure of nuclear graphite seen by X-ray diffraction. The results show that the changes of the deduced structural parameters are in agreement with previous observations from electron microscopy, but not directly related to macroscopic changes.