Description
Along with furnaces this suite includes loading rigs with tension, compression and cyclic capability. Three rigs will be fitted out with a furnace to enable in situ testing of active material under controlled environments at temperatures up to at least 800 °C and one 1.6 L autoclave for operation at 360 °C and 200 bar.
Uses / Applications
It is necessary to understand the impact of prolonged radiation on the mechanical performance of a range of materials such as graphite and Zircaloy used in fission and fusion facilities. Understanding the corrosion impact on radionuclide behaviour in encapsulated or enclosed form is vital in understanding the state of our current waste stockpile and making the most economical choices in its handling and disposal. Understanding the future behaviour of the UK’s proposed geological disposal facility requires intimate knowledge of the interaction of radionuclides with the materials used in the construction of the facility.
Specification
This suite has a bespoke furnace capable of holding specimens at 3000 °C; a high temperature high pressure autoclave; two thermal treatment rigs with integrated Carbon-14 and continuous gas analysers with a 10 kN capacity to accommodate the broadest possible range of user requirements, from soft biomaterials and polymers to high strength engineering alloys; two thermal creep rigs with inpsitu and ex-situ capabilities, 3D DIC and gas analysers; tube furnace, vaccum furnace, chamber furnace, several low temeprature ovens.
Equipment in use:
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Carbolite 3000C Graphitisation Furnace
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Carbolite Large Retort Funace (1800C) + Hiden QMS
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Creep Rig (Instron frame + furnace 1200 + DIC)
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Dual Zone MTT Furnace (C14/Trit) + Hiden QMS 1
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Dual Zone MTT Furnace (C14/Trit) + Hiden QMS 2
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RD Webb HT Vacuum Furnace
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Carbolite Hydrogen Tube Furnace
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Carbolite Nitriding Tube Furnace
on Heater
