TY - JOUR

T1 - Observations of crystal strains in filler and QI particles through TEM examination – Effect of processing and grain size

AU - Arregui-Mena, José David

AU - Worth, Robert N.

AU - Tunes, Matheus

AU - Edmondson, Philip D.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors

PY - 2021/6

Y1 - 2021/6

N2 - Nuclear graphite serves as a moderator and structural support in British Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors(AGRs) and is a candidate for the next generation of nuclear reactors. Graphite is comprised of three mainphases: binder, filler and porosity; which are dependent on the manufacturing process and raw materials.During the graphitisation process, graphite components are subjected to high temperatures which maylead to significant strains and also creation of cracks known as Mrozowski cracks. Transmission electronmicroscopy observations confirmed the existence of strain fields generated by Mrozowski cracks, manufacturingand neutron irradiation in multiple graphite grades. This research confirms the existence ofcrystal strains in filler particles and quinoline insoluble (QI) particles. The observations gathered in thisresearch indicate that crystal strains provide different degrees of rigidity to the filler and binder phase. Acomparison between crystal strains of QI particles and filler particles may explain the irradiationresponse of these phases.

AB - Nuclear graphite serves as a moderator and structural support in British Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors(AGRs) and is a candidate for the next generation of nuclear reactors. Graphite is comprised of three mainphases: binder, filler and porosity; which are dependent on the manufacturing process and raw materials.During the graphitisation process, graphite components are subjected to high temperatures which maylead to significant strains and also creation of cracks known as Mrozowski cracks. Transmission electronmicroscopy observations confirmed the existence of strain fields generated by Mrozowski cracks, manufacturingand neutron irradiation in multiple graphite grades. This research confirms the existence ofcrystal strains in filler particles and quinoline insoluble (QI) particles. The observations gathered in thisresearch indicate that crystal strains provide different degrees of rigidity to the filler and binder phase. Acomparison between crystal strains of QI particles and filler particles may explain the irradiationresponse of these phases.

KW - Crystal strains

KW - Irradiation effects

KW - Nuclear graphite

KW - TEM

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103653961&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.matdes.2021.109673

DO - 10.1016/j.matdes.2021.109673

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85103653961

VL - 204.2021

JO - Materials and Design

JF - Materials and Design

SN - 0264-1275

IS - June

M1 - 109673

ER -