Nuclear methods and techniques for analysis, characterization and certification of the materials employed in CANDU type nuclear plants

Developing advanced materials with pre-established properties is a major challenging objective of research. Electronics materials, ultra-hard alloys, resistant to special temperature and environment conditions, alloys with special mechanical properties, resistant to wear/corrosion are under intensive research all over the world. Particle accelerators are used for complementary methodologies and technologies for characterization and modification of materials. IFIN-HH is provided with two positive charged particle accelerators, a Van de Graaff Tandem FN (8 MV on the terminal) and a Cyclotron U-120 (accelerating protons, deuterons up to 13 MeV and α particles up to 27 MeV). The following methods and technologies based on accelerated beams were developed: a. non-destructive methods for determining elemental composition (PIXE, NRA, CPAA, CE and HICE,i.e., Proton Induced X-ray Emission, Nuclear Resonance Analysis, Charged Particle Activation Analysis, Coulomb Excitation and Heavy Ion Coulomb Excitation); b. non-destructive methods for analysis and characterization of thin layers (RBS and ERDA , i.e., Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry and Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis); c. non-destructive methods for evaluating the wear/corrosion of the materials (TLA and UTLA, i.e., Thin Layer Activation and Ultra Thin Layer Activation); d. methods of production of intense fast and thermal neutron beams at the Cyclotron U-120. These techniques and methods are approached in the frame of the Center of Excellence 'Inter-Disciplinary Research and Applications based on Nuclear and Atomic Physics', contract ICA1-CT-2000-70023, partially financed by European Union