Radiation damage study using small-angle neutron scattering

Nuclear radiation provides important changes in the microstructure of metal lic components of nuclear power plant and research reactors, influencing th eir mechanical properties. The investigation of this problem has primary in terest for the safety and life-time of such nuclear installations. For the characterization of this kind of nanostructures small angle neutron scatter ing technique is a very useful tool. We have carried out experiments on sam ples of irradiated reactor vessel material and welded components of VVER-44 0-type reactors on the SANS instrument at the Budapest Research Reactor. In our measurements irradiated as well as non-irradiated samples were compare d and magnetic field was applied for viewing the magnetic structure effects of the materials. A clear modification of the structure due to irradiation was obtained. Our data were analyzed by the ITP92 code, the inverse Fourie r transform program of O. Glatter [1]. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.