Radiation resistance of zirconium hydride

Using the method of incoherent scattering of thermal neutrons a study was made into hydrogen concentration variation in the sample of zirconium hydride irradiated by fast neutron fluence of 2x1027 n/m2 at 400 deg C. The irradiation was carried out in NB-600 nuclear reactor. There is no evidence of hydrogen loss under irradiation. The stability of zirconium hydride concentration is assumed to be provided by the protective coating. The advantages of the method of thermal neutron incoherent scattering for investigating irradiated materials are pointed out. Zirconium hydrides are considered as promising fast neutron moderators. 4 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs