Fundamentals of current and future uses of nuclear graphite
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Institute of Materials Research
Abstract
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Publications
Aidan Westwood (Author)
(2011)
Life expectancy - graphite behaviour in nuclear reactors
in Materials World
Freeman H
(2017)
Thermal annealing of nuclear graphite during in-situ electron irradiation
in Carbon
Freeman H
(2017)
Micro to nanostructural observations in neutron irradiated nuclear graphites PCEA and PCIB
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Freeman H
(2016)
On the nature of cracks and voids in nuclear graphite
in Carbon
Hage F
(2013)
Topologically induced confinement of collective modes in multilayer graphene nanocones measured by momentum-resolved STEM-VEELS
in Physical Review B
Hage FS
(2014)
Dielectric response of pentagonal defects in multilayer graphene nano-cones.
in Nanoscale
Hardcastle T
(2013)
Mobile metal adatoms on single layer, bilayer, and trilayer graphene: An ab initio DFT study with van der Waals corrections correlated with electron microscopy data
in Physical Review B
Mironov B
(2012)
Structure of different grades of nuclear graphite
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
| Description | •Developed Electron Irradiation in the TEM as a surrogate for neutron Irradiation at both room temperature and up to 400 oC. Developed characterisation methods (TEM imaging and diffraction plus EELS) to analyse effect of dose (dpa) on the structure and bonding. Have shown that annealing above 200 oC is key in restricting damage. •Ion and electron radiation-induced dimensional change in graphite occurs from 20 K to 1200 K. Novel understanding of models for point defect generation and migration •In situ observation of ion damage has given new insights in the defect dynamics and radiation response of graphitic materials including: Dislocation formation from grain boundaries; dislocation array formation; kink band formation •Obervation of ion irradiation induced 5-7 member rings in SuperSTEM which modelling has shown to induce buckling of the basal planes •Mrozowski crack modification has been observed under irradiation and annealing •Developed an initial microstructural model for nuclear grade graphite derived from polarized light microscopy, XRD, Raman, SEM and TEM. •Initiated studies of neutron-irradiated specimens (as a function of dose and temperature) using XRD, Raman, SEM and TEM. •Have established several international collaborations (Idaho National Lab., University of Michigan, PyroMAN, AIST) and it was through one of these (INL) that neutron-irradiated samples were acquired. |
| Exploitation Route | This project is part of the FunGraph consortium, established with the successful EPSRC proposal "Fundamentals of current and future uses of nuclear graphite". The consortium has been arguably the most productive and knowledgeable academic network worldwide in nuclear graphite, undertaking research over all lengthscales from atomistic to reactor component level, from fundamental science to engineering design. It has extensive partnerships with the UK's Nuclear Regulator (Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR)), industry (EDF, AMEC, Serco, Rolls Royce), national and international laboratories and facilities (National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), UKAEA, Nuclear Decommissioning Agency (NDA), Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Dalton Cumbria Facility (DCF)). Findings will be used be of value to both academic researchers and to our industrial partners and the energy regulators. |
| Sectors | Energy |
| URL | http://www.nuclear-graphite.org.uk/ |
| Description | Pyroman, Bordeaux |
| Organisation | University of Bordeaux |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Two visits to the Pyroman research group in Bordeaux. EELS modelling of data produced by Bordeaux group. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Bordeaux group provided novel image analysis software and training which furthered our understanding of our materials systems. |
| Impact | Electron irradiation of nuclear graphite studied by transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy B. E. Mironov, H. M. Freeman, A. P. Brown, F. S. Hage, A. J. Scott, A. V. K. Westwood, J. -P. Da Costa, P. Weisbecker and R. M. D. Brydson, Carbon, accepted, (2014). Brindusa E Mironov et al 2014 J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 522 012051 |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | SuperSTEM |
| Organisation | Daresbury Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Modelling support to experimental electron microscopy group. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Understanding of materials by using state of the art electron microscopy. |
| Impact | Dielectric Response of Pentagonal Defects in Multilayer Graphene Nano-Cones F. S. Hage, D. M. Kepaptsoglou, C. R. Seabourne, A. J. Scott, Q. M. Ramasse, Ø. Prytz, A. E. Gunnæs and G. Helgesen, Nanoscale, 6, 1833, (2014)Metal adatoms on single layer, bilayer and trilayer graphene: an ab initio study correlated with experimental electron microscopy data T. P. Hardcastle, C. R. Seabourne, R. Zan, R. M. D. Brydson, U. Bangert, Q. M. Ramasse, K. Novoselov and A. J. Scott, Physical Review B, 87, 195430, (2013) Probing the bonding and electronic structure of single atom dopants in graphene with electron energy loss spectroscopy Q. M. Ramasse, C. R. Seabourne, R. Zan, D.Kepaptsoglou, U. Bangert and A. J. Scott, NanoLetters, 13, 4989, (2013) |
| Start Year | 2010 |