Materials Performance & Ageing

Localised Corrosion of Steels

Passive Film Effects

Micro-strain Analyses

Materials Performance & Ageing Centre for Nuclear Engineering

The Role of Defects

Above: Graph showing the excellent agreement between stress proles derived from experimental and simulated microstrain results (contour plots: left) for Nuclear reactor pressure vessel steels.


Welding
Welds in nuclear systems are often of concern, both because of defects in the weld metal and solidication segregation and because of residual stresses. This, together with irradiation-induced embrittlement means that pressure circuit weld cracking is a major focus of safety analyses. In the group we have signicant expertise in weld modelling, weld residual stress measurement and advanced synchrotron and neutron characterisation.

Zirconium
Zirconium alloys are widely used for incore structural applications due to their low neutron capture cross-section and reasonable mechanical properties. However, irradiation creep, delayed hydride cracking and corrosion are all imperfectly understood. Work here focuses on a fundamental understanding of phase stability and hydrogen, on deformation mechanisms and hydrides. Understanding these mechanisms would lead to improvements in fuel clad performance.

Corrosion
Stainless steels are used in many primary circuit components of light water reactor systems. Although they have extremely good general corrosion resistance they can be susceptible to localised attack such as pitting corrosion and also stress corrosion cracking (SCC). The image shows how secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) is used to demonstrate the signicant reduction in the Cr: Fe ratio of the steel matrix around an MnS particle. These chromium depleted regions are susceptible to high-rate dissolution that triggers pitting. Understanding pitting corrosion and SCC are vital in reducing component failures and extending plant life safely.

Dr David Dye Tel. +44 (0)20 7594 6811 E-mail. david.dye@imperial.ac.uk

Materials Performance & Ageing Centre for Nuclear Engineering

Dr Mary Ryan Tel. +44 (0)20 7594 6755 E-mail. m.p.ryan@imperial.ac.uk

Dr Mark Wenman Tel. +44 (0)20 7594 6763 E-mail. m.wenman@imperial.ac.uk