Most of the damage inside nuclear reactors is so small that it did not succumb to previous ones
Instead of directly observing the physical structure of the material in question, the new approach examinesAny disturbance in the orderly structure of the atoms within the material, such as that caused by radiation exposure or mechanical stress, actually imparts to theexcess energy, the scientists explain.
The method proposed by the engineers is based on the estimationenergy difference. Once the change is determined, the scientists calculate the total amount of damage in the material, even if it's atomic-scale defects that can't be observed.
The method they use is calleddifferential scanning calorimetry. The sample to be studied is placed in a special chamber with two identical cells. The researchers gradually increase the temperature and measure how the energy changes in the empty chamber and in the chamber with the sample.
To test their technology, the researchersstudied a titanium nut recovered from a nuclear reactor. The results of the experiments showed that the new method is five times more sensitive to defects than the existing ones.
The researchers believe that with the newtechnology can extend the life of nuclear reactors from 40–60 to 100 years. For such an increase to be safe, it is necessary to control the quality of the materials. By constantly evaluating their condition, defects can be identified in a timely manner and individual elements can be removed before something unexpected happens.
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