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Weick S, Grosse M. Investigating Hydrogen in Zirconium Alloys by Means of Neutron Imaging. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:781. [PMID: 38399032 PMCID: PMC10890486 DOI: 10.3390/ma17040781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Neutrons interact with the magnetic moment of the atomic shell of an atom, as is common for X-rays, but mainly they interact directly with the nucleus. Therefore, the atomic number and the related number of electrons does not play a role in the strength of an interaction. Instead, hydrogen that is nearly invisible for X-rays has a higher attenuation for neutrons than most of the metals, e.g., zirconium, and thus would be visible through dark contrast in neutron images. Consequently, neutron imaging is a precise, non-destructive method to quantify the amount of hydrogen in materials with low attenuation. Because nuclear fuel cladding tubes of light water reactors are made of zirconium (98%), the hydrogen amount and distribution in metallic claddings can be investigated. Even hydrogen concentrations smaller than 10 wt.ppm can be determined locally with a spatial resolution of less than 10 μm (with a high-resolution neutron microscope). All in all, neutron imaging is a very fast and precise method for several applications. This article explains the basics of neutron imaging and provides samples of investigation possibilities, e.g., for hydrogen in zirconium alloy cladding tubes or in situ investigations of hydrogen diffusion in metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Weick
- Institute for Applied Materials-Applied Materials Physics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Mirco Grosse
- Institute for Applied Materials-Applied Materials Physics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
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Al-Falahat AM, Kardjilov N, Woracek R, Boin M, Markötter H, Kuhn LT, Makowska M, Strobl M, Pfretzschner B, Banhart J, Manke I. Temperature dependence in Bragg edge neutron transmission measurements. J Appl Crystallogr 2022; 55:919-928. [PMID: 35974731 PMCID: PMC9348867 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576722006549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
A systematic study has been carried out to investigate the neutron transmission signal as a function of sample temperature. In particular, the experimentally determined wavelength-dependent neutron attenuation spectra for a martensitic steel at temperatures ranging from 21 to 700°C are compared with simulated data. A theoretical description that includes the Debye–Waller factor in order to describe the temperature influence on the neutron cross sections was implemented in the nxsPlotter software and used for the simulations. The analysis of the attenuation coefficients at varying temperatures shows that the missing contributions due to elastic and inelastic scattering can be clearly distinguished: while the elastically scattered intensities decrease with higher temperatures, the inelastically scattered intensities increase, and the two can be separated from each other by analysing unique sharp features in the form of Bragg edges. This study presents the first systematic approach to quantify this effect and can serve as a basis , for example, to correct measurements taken during in situ heat treatments, in many cases being a prerequisite for obtaining quantifiable results.
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In Situ Neutron Radiography Investigations of Hydrogen Related Processes in Zirconium Alloys. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app11135775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In situ neutron radiography experiments can provide information about diffusive processes and the kinetics of chemical reactions. The paper discusses requirements for such investigations. As examples of the zirconium alloy Zircaloy-4, the hydrogen diffusion, the hydrogen uptake during high-temperature oxidation in steam, and the reaction in nitrogen/steam and air/steam atmospheres, results of in situ neutron radiography investigations are reviewed, and their benefit is discussed.
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Grosse M, Santisteban JR, Bertsch J, Schillinger B, Kaestner A, Daymond MR, Kardjilov N. Investigations of the hydrogen diffusion and distribution in Zirconium by means of Neutron Imaging. KERNTECHNIK 2018. [DOI: 10.3139/124.110946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAbsorbed hydrogen degrades the mechanical properties of zirconium alloys used for nuclear fuel claddings. Not only the total amount of hydrogen absorbed in the cladding tube but also the zirconium hydride orientation and its distribution influence the toughness of the material. For instance, the so-called delayed hydride cracking is caused by the diffusive re-distribution of hydrogen into the dilative elastic strain field ahead of crack tips. The paper presents in-situ and ex-situ neutron imaging investigations of hydrogen uptake, diffusion and distribution in zirconium alloys used for claddings. An overview about results of in-situ experiments studying the hydrogen uptake in strained Zircaloy-4, as well as ex-situ investigations of the diffusion of hydrogen in cold rolled Zircaloy-2 and Zr-2.5 % Nb alloy depending on temperature, rolling direction and thermal treatment and of the hydrogen re-distribution in the β-phase of Zircaloy-4 during a Three-Point-Bending-Test at 600 °C are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Grosse
- 1Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 3640, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - J. R. Santisteban
- 2Centro Atómico Bariloche-CNEA and CONICET, Av Bustillo Km 9.500, Bariloche 8400, Argentina
| | - J. Bertsch
- 3Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland,
| | - B. Schillinger
- 4Technische Universität München, James-Franck-Str. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany,
| | - A. Kaestner
- 5Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland,
| | - M. R. Daymond
- 6Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Queens University, Nicol Hall, 60 Union Street, Kingston, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - N. Kardjilov
- 7Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, 14109 Berlin, Germany
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Makowska MG, Strobl M, Lauridsen EM, Kabra S, Kockelmann W, Tremsin A, Frandsen HL, Theil Kuhn L. In situ time-of-flight neutron imaging of NiO–YSZ anode support reduction under influence of stress. J Appl Crystallogr 2016. [DOI: 10.1107/s1600576716012668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
This article reports on in situ macroscopic scale imaging of NiO–YSZ (YSZ is yttria-stabilized zirconia) reduction under applied stress – a phase transition taking place in solid oxide electrochemical cells in a reducing atmosphere of a hydrogen/nitrogen mixture and at operation temperatures of up to 1073 K. This process is critical for the performance and lifetime of the cells. Energy-resolved neutron imaging was applied to observe the phase transition directly with time and spatial resolution. Two different approaches are presented for using this imaging technique for the investigation of chemical and physical processes requiring controlled atmosphere and elevated temperature. The first type of measurement is based on alternating stages of short-term partial chemical reaction and longer neutron image acquisition, and the second type is a real in situ neutron imaging experiment. Results of applying energy-resolved neutron imaging with both approaches to the NiO–YSZ reduction investigation indicate enhancement of the reduction rate due to applied stress, which is consistent with the results of the authors' previous research.
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Tremsin AS, Makowska MG, Perrodin D, Shalapska T, Khodyuk IV, Trtik P, Boillat P, Vogel SC, Losko AS, Strobl M, Kuhn LT, Bizarri GA, Bourret-Courchesne ED. In situ diagnostics of the crystal-growth process through neutron imaging: application to scintillators. J Appl Crystallogr 2016; 49:743-755. [PMID: 27275133 PMCID: PMC4886976 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576716004350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutrons are known to be unique probes in situations where other types of radiation fail to penetrate samples and their surrounding structures. In this paper it is demonstrated how thermal and cold neutron radiography can provide time-resolved imaging of materials while they are being processed (e.g. while growing single crystals). The processing equipment, in this case furnaces, and the scintillator materials are opaque to conventional X-ray interrogation techniques. The distribution of the europium activator within a BaBrCl:Eu scintillator (0.1 and 0.5% nominal doping concentrations per mole) is studied in situ during the melting and solidification processes with a temporal resolution of 5-7 s. The strong tendency of the Eu dopant to segregate during the solidification process is observed in repeated cycles, with Eu forming clusters on multiple length scales (only for clusters larger than ∼50 µm, as limited by the resolution of the present experiments). It is also demonstrated that the dopant concentration can be quantified even for very low concentration levels (∼0.1%) in 10 mm thick samples. The interface between the solid and liquid phases can also be imaged, provided there is a sufficient change in concentration of one of the elements with a sufficient neutron attenuation cross section. Tomographic imaging of the BaBrCl:0.1%Eu sample reveals a strong correlation between crystal fractures and Eu-deficient clusters. The results of these experiments demonstrate the unique capabilities of neutron imaging for in situ diagnostics and the optimization of crystal-growth procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton S. Tremsin
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Małgorzata G. Makowska
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde 4000, Denmark
- European Spallation Source ESS AB, PO Box 176, Lund SE-221 00, Sweden
| | - Didier Perrodin
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Tetiana Shalapska
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Ivan V. Khodyuk
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Pavel Trtik
- Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | | | - Sven C. Vogel
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
| | | | - Markus Strobl
- European Spallation Source ESS AB, PO Box 176, Lund SE-221 00, Sweden
| | - L. Theil Kuhn
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde 4000, Denmark
| | - Gregory A. Bizarri
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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