Evolution of nanostructure and properties in nuclear graphite with irradiation damage

There are many different grades of graphite, for instance, the UK AGRs are using medium grained Gilsocarbon graphite but they are no longer reproducible and for GenIV designs, new graphite materials have to be designed and produced but many of them have finder grains. The question is how well do these fine grain graphite work and will we be able to directly apply our accumulated knowledge on historical grades? As the operation conditions get harsher can we simply linearly extrapolate the known envelope? To answer these questions and to support the long-term safe operation of our nuclear fission reactors as well as underpin the exploration of physics science in general, we need to foster next generation of experts in nuclear graphite.
In this project, we will not only provide you the opportunity to work with world-class graphite experts, access to unique facilities but also we will have your next stage career development in mind to strongly support your skills development. Our primary aim is to enable your success and grow into an expert in nuclear graphite to contribute to nuclear graphite community internationally.
Neutron and proton irradiated samples have been provided by UK National Nuclear Laboratory, EDF Energy, UK Idaho National Laboratory and US Fermi Lab, and they are stored at the University of Bristol and the UK Atomic Energy Agency (Culham) for your project. You will use a range of techniques including X-ray diffraction/tomography, Focused ion beam tomography, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy to study the evolution of the nano-/microstructures of the materials and correlate them to the local thermal and mechanical properties.