Radiation resistance of the piezoelectric ceramics TsTS-21 and TNV-1

Using an experimental IVV-2M reactor, the authors studied the effect of reactor irradiation and determined the optimum thickness of the piezoceramics (piezoelectric ceramics) TsTS-21 and TNV-1 that are used as the sensing elements of the transducers (gauges) for measuring the pressure pulsations of a liquid or a gas in the core. The authors investigated the effect of the exposed dose rate of gamma radiation and the neutron fluence on the resistance and the capacitance of the TsTS-21 and TNV-1 specimens, and on the amplitude of the signals of the piezoelectric transducers. The design of the transducer is shown. The obtained results make it possible to optimize the choice of design of the sensitive (sensing) element of the transducer for measuring the pressure pulsations of the liquid or gas flow in the core of a nuclear reactor and to adjust the transducer signal taking the attained fast-neutron fluence into account