Materials selection and R&D

The aim is to provide a technologically viable material that sustains the rather harsh operating conditions : normal operating temperature ranging from 200 °C up to 500 °C under Lead-Bismuth Eutecticum and fast neutron irradiation producing some 100 dpa and 3appm He/dpa.

Selection

These operation conditions are very new, it’s therefore a very challenging issue to select a material from the existing materials-database for nuclear applications that would comply with all requirements. But, the rationalisation of the existing knowledge about the most common materials would allow an educated guess of the potential candidate. T91 steel is designed as the prime candidate materials to be in contact with the LBE and to contain the fuel in MYRRHA.

Research and development

	It is of paramount importance and especially for the long term integrity of the components that R&D should be pursued to gain an in-depth understanding of the material response. This program should of course merge to safety trend curves based on the needs of the security authority and the MYRRHA operating conditions.
	Starting in 1999, in the frame of the 5th FWP, few programs have been started to study the effect of irradiation (SPIRE), Lead-Bismuth Eutectic (TECLA), Spallation and Lead-Bismuth Eutectic (MEGAPIE). For the future R&D programme, the MYRRHA project intends to follow the strategy illustrated in the flow chart on the left.