The neglected activation of tantalum in reduced activation materials

Lei Zhang; Yufeng Du; Wentuo Han; Xiaoou Yi; Pingping Liu; Kenta Yoshida; Takeshi Toyama; Chi Xu; Qian Zhan; Yasuyoshi Nagai; Somei Ohnuki; Farong Wan

Nuclear Materials and Energy (Jun 2023)

The neglected activation of tantalum in reduced activation materials

Lei Zhang,
Yufeng Du,
Wentuo Han,
Xiaoou Yi,
Pingping Liu,
Kenta Yoshida,
Takeshi Toyama,
Chi Xu,
Qian Zhan,
Yasuyoshi Nagai,
Somei Ohnuki,
Farong Wan

Affiliations

Lei Zhang: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Yufeng Du: The Oarai Branch, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Oarai, Ibaraki 311-1313, Japan
Wentuo Han: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; Corresponding authors.
Xiaoou Yi: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Pingping Liu: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Kenta Yoshida: The Oarai Branch, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Oarai, Ibaraki 311-1313, Japan
Takeshi Toyama: The Oarai Branch, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Oarai, Ibaraki 311-1313, Japan; Corresponding authors.
Chi Xu: College of Nuclear Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Qian Zhan: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Yasuyoshi Nagai: The Oarai Branch, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Oarai, Ibaraki 311-1313, Japan
Somei Ohnuki: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; Material Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8626, Japan
Farong Wan: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 35
p. 101432

Abstract

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Due to the expression of “reduced activation”, the severe radioactivity of tantalum (Ta) after neutron irradiation in early decay years is easily neglected. In the presented study, after an irradiation of only 0.3 dpa by fission neutron and followed by a cooling stage of 305 days, the RAFM steel specimen with a weight of 0.8 g possessed drastic radioactivity of 4 mSv/hour at a measuring distance of 20 cm. It was ascertained that the high radioactivity was generated by 182Ta. The severe radioactivity seriously increased the danger of material experiments, even though the original Ta addition of the steel was only 0.13 wt%. Similar deteriorative radioactivity of Ta can be generated in both fission and fusion neutron irradiations. We appeal to seriously deliberate the radioactivity of Ta and control the Ta content in the RAFM steel.

Published in Nuclear Materials and Energy

ISSN: 2352-1791 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Nuclear engineering. Atomic power
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/nuclear-materials-and-energy/

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