Radiation-thermal effects change of physico-mechanical properties in reactor materials irradiated with neutrons and energetic charged particles

In the first part of the report (chapter 1) the earlier results of the important scientific and technological investigations which were performed in the seventies years in Poland have been presented. They concerned the fabrication, corrosion, mechanical properties of materials for research and power reactors. Being of the general survey character, the chapter includes own, original results of research of thermal irradiation effects on microstructure evolution phase transformations and mechanical properties of reactor materials. The kinetics of isothermal transformation β→α in U-Cr 0.4% wt. alloy has been studied. Factors affecting stress-corrosion cracking of zirconium in iodine vapour have been investigated. The rings and loops for irradiation specimens and Hot Laboratory for postirradiation examination of construction materials is described. In the second part (chapters 2, 3, 4, 5) performed the investigations and simulations of radiation damage in metals by heavy ion beams (E > 1 MeV/a.m.n.) were described scientific base and technical problems of the method of irradiation of heavy ions and of the examination of irradiated samples is presented. It is followed by a summary of the results of simulation and reactor experiments on different materials. Radiation hardening of a number metals (Al, Zr, Cu, Ni, U) irradiated by heavy ion and neutrons, mechanical properties and microstructural evolution in ion and neutron irradiated austenitic stainless steel is described. The last chapter is a description of practical aspects of the presented studies in nuclear science and technology. (author)