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Swiss nuclear power and the case for long-term operation
Designed for 40 years but built to last far longer, Switzerland’s nuclear power plants have all entered long-term operation. Yet age alone says little about safety or performance. Through continuous upgrades, strict regulatory oversight, and extensive aging management, the country’s reactors are being prepared for decades of continued operation, in line with international practice.
D.J. Michel, C. Z. Serpan, Jr., H. H. Smith, A. G. Pieper
Nuclear Technology | Volume 22 | Number 1 | April 1974 | Pages 79-87
Technical Paper | Fusion Reactor Materials / Material | doi.org/10.13182/NT74-A16276
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The effect of cyclotron-implanted helium on the fatigue behavior of the molybdenum-base alloy TZM was investigated at 900°C. The results show that the helium-implanted TZM alloy fatigue specimens exhibit almost double the fatigue life of the unimplanted fatigue specimens. Optical and transmission electron microscope examination of specimen sections adjacent to the fracture revealed no evidence of significant differences between the helium-implanted and unimplanted specimens. However, transmission electron microscope examination of helium-implanted fatigue specimen sections annealed at 1310°C (0.55 Tm), following testing, revealed the presence of cavities within the grain matrix as well as cavities associated with dislocations. By comparison, the unimplanted specimens exhibited a structure characteristic of a well-annealed material. Based on the results of this study and on other available experimental evidence, it was concluded that the enhanced fatigue life of helium-implanted TZM alloy at 900°C resulted from the presence of substitutional helium-defect clusters, possibly associated with dislocations and/or precipitates. However, additional experiments will be necessary to firmly establish the details of the strengthening mechanism indicated by the present results.