Andrea Salvini, CERN, L.E.N.A. Laboratory at Pavia University (Laboratorio Energia Nucleare Applicata) TRIGA Mark II pool research reactor light water and H x Zr moderated 250 kW steady-state power In operation since 1965 Reactor tank: 1.98 m diameter, 6.4 m height with demineralized water Reactor core: 44.6 cm diameter 64,8 cm height 90 symmetric holes: fuel elements, control rods, neutron source, irradiation channels Graphite reflector 30 cm thickness Biological shield concrete 1 m thickness

2 T.R.I.G.A. Mark II pool research reactor (Training, Research and Isotope production General Atomics) First core configuration (1965) neutron source control rods graphite elements fuel elements 20% 235 U enriched 92% H x Zr Rabbit Central thimble Thimble F water pool for large samples Thermalizing column Thermal column Reactor core biological shielding Core and in-core irradiating channels Vertical cross section Andrea Salvini, CERN,

3 T.R.I.G.A. Mark II pool research reactor (Irradiation facilities) 27 polyethylene vials 0.8 cm diameter 3.0 cm height Central thimble (1.72x10 13 ) aluminum pipe 3.8 cm diameter neutron fluxes in n/(s cm 2 ) Radial graphite reflector 30 cm thickness Rabbit channel (7.40x10 12 ) pneumatic sample extraction Lazy Susan (2.40x10 12 ) Rotating rack for 80 samples at a time Thimble F aluminum pipe 3.8 cm diameter Thermal channel (2.52x10 11 ) 7.0 cm diameter Andrea Salvini, CERN,

4 T.R.I.G.A. Mark II pool research reactor (Irradiation beam ports) neutron fluxes in n/(s cm 2 ) Thermal column (1.19x10 10 ) well thermalized isotropic flux Thermalizing column Various levels of thermalization Water pool biological medical applications (1.14x10 12 ) (1.12x10 11 ) (9,07x10 9 ) Ø 20.3 cm Ø 15.2 cm Andrea Salvini, CERN,

5 T.R.I.G.A. Mark II pool research reactor (Irradiation fluxes) Irradiation facility Measured flux n/(s cm 2 ) Central thimble(1.72 ± 0.17) Rabbit channel(7.40 ± 0.95) Lazy Susan(2.40 ± 0.24) Thermal channel(2.52 ± 0.36) Thermal column(1.19 ± 0.08) (1.14x10 12 ) (1.12x10 11 ) (9.07x10 9 ) (1.1x10 9 ) Andrea Salvini, CERN,

6 The L.E.N.A. Laboratory (Measurement design, irradiations, sample analyses) LENA building LENA staff Spectroscopy and radiochemistry Present activities: a.Studies of radioisotope production for medical and industrial applications b.Trace element search by neutron activation c. Radiation damage studies on electronic circuits and materials for space and accelerator physics d.Radiocarbon dating of archeological and historical samples and artifacts e. Forensic analyses and inquires f.Collaboration to research projects in medicine (BNCT ) and nuclear and particle physics. Andrea Salvini, CERN,

7 Possible extensions of the RDS_SPES Project (Metals and alloys, Ceramics, electronic circuits) Three main questions for inorganic materials: 1)High irradiation neutron fluences needed to test damage in metals and ceramics; are TRIGA fluxes adequate to needs? 2)A metallurgy test laboratory is needed to perform pre and post irradiation tests on metallic samples 3)Metals may be activated by neutron irradiation, transmutation effects 4)Just an observation: a lot of interest, but lack of background and expertise in the present collaboration Electronic circuits and components: No particular problems; integrated electronics is very sensitive to radiation damage Andrea Salvini, CERN,

8 Possible answers to questions concerning investigation on inorganic materials: 1), 2) 1)Are TRIGA fluxes adequate to needs? a)This has to be verified. Possibly a factor 10 lower than the highest reactor fluxes b)Consider also that radiation damage and damage evolution can be predicted by computational models to a certain extent. c)Reliable radiation damage correlation requires integration of theoretical, computational end experimental tools. 2)A metallurgical laboratory is needed to perform the tests a)The Group of Metallurgy of the Brescia University is interested in a possible collaboration; pre e post irradiation mechanical test on (non activated) metallic samples may be performed in Brescia b)The same interest has been manifested by the Groups of Metallurgy and Machine Design of the Padua University Andrea Salvini, CERN,

9 The Laboratory of Metallurgy at the Brescia University diecasting plant Vickers microindenter optical microscopy strain machine Tests at the Brescia Metallurgy Laboratory 1.All metal plastic properties can be tested: yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, elongation to fracture, fatigue stress, hardness, impact strength, creep, ductility, brittleness, etc. 2. Microindentation and nanoindentation testing equipments are available for non destructive tests Andrea Salvini, CERN,

10 The Laboratories of Metallurgy and Machine Design at the Padua University Metallurgy studies performed 1.Neutron damage on microstructure: 2.Tests on mechanical properties: hardness, tensile strength, fatigue, etc 3.Steels and alloys for nuclear reactor use: valve bodies, cooling systems, canisters 4.Optical, SEM, TEM microscopy 5.Hardness measurement instrumentation 6.X ray diffractrometer 7.Corrosion laboratory 8.High temperature fatigue tests Andrea Salvini, CERN,

11 Possible answers to questions concerning investigation on inorganic materials: 3) 3)Metals may be activated by neutron irradiation a)If metallic samples are activated by neutron irradiation, some testing equipment may be installed in the mechanical workshop inside the LENA building b)If needed and justified, automated “hot cells” may be installed too c) Rad-waste creation and disposal must be carefully evaluated d)A list of possible “hot” analysis may be considered and studied on a case by case basis LENA mechanical workshop Andrea Salvini, CERN,