Nuclear Materials and Energy (Jun 2024)
The eighth SINQ Target Irradiation Program, STIP-VIII
Abstract
The eighth experiment of the SINQ Target Irradiation Program (STIP-VIII) included a total of 941 specimens from 25 steels, 8 zircaloys, 6 tungsten based alloys (W-alloys) and 2 silicon carbide (SiC) composites. Specimens were prepared in 2016 and 2017. Irradiation was carried out in SINQ Target-13 in two periods: June 26 to December 21, 2018 and July 30 to December 23, 2020. The total proton charge received by Target-13 is 7.8 Ah, corresponding to 1.75×1023 protons. The irradiated specimens were unpacked in 2022 and 2023 and more than 98 % of the specimens were recovered. The specimens were irradiated at temperatures between 100 and 450 °C. The maximum doses are 10.4 dpa for steels, 14.8 dpa for zircaloys, 11.5 dpa for W-alloys, and 3.5 dpa for SiC composites. The He-to-dpa ratio is in the range of 22–42 appm/dpa for steels, 13–16 appm/dpa for zircaloys, 30–36 appm/dpa for W-alloys and 90–125 appm/dpa for SiC composites.