Absorber materials for control rod systems of fast breeder reactors

The physical, metallurgical and chemical properties of absorber materials for Fast Breeder Reactors (boron carbide, europium boride, europium oxide) and results on their behaviour under neutron irradiation (swelling, He-release) are reported. Especially the functional correlations are presented which describe the influence of reactor conditions (temperature and neutron dose) and product characteristics (porosity, density) on the material behaviour. These correlations are the base of the design calculations for absorber pins of SNR 300 and KNK-II. (orig.)