Status of the Spallation Neutron Source with focus on target materials

Liquid metal embrittlement of T91 and 316L steels by heavy liquid metals: A fracture mechanics assessment

“…[1,2]. The heavy liquid metals used in these systems are mercury (Hg) and Lead-Bismuth eutectic (LBE) alloy.…”

Tensile properties of EC316LN irradiated in SINQ to 20dpa

“…cate that the decrease of the TE stops at about the same dose, though the STN decreases further to essentially <1%, which was observed in other irradiations, too [9,10]. A conclusion drawn from such a comparison is that, as also can be seen from the large database shown in [11], no substantial difference is exhibited in the tensile properties of 316-type steels irradiated in fission reactors and spallation targets in the present dose and temperature ranges, particularly for those specimens tested at P100°C. This also indicates that He does not introduce a noticeable hardening effect, although He-bubbles were observed in specimens irradiated to high doses at <$300°C [1].…”

Mitigation Technologies for Damage Induced by Pressure Waves in High-Power Mercury Spallation Neutron Sources (III)—Consideration of the Effect of Microbubbles on Pressure Wave Propagation through a Water Test—

“…[11][12][13][14][15] High-power pulsed spallation neutron sources are working in the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) 16) and the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) of the United States. 17) In both neutron sources, liquid mercury was selected as a target material because of its high neutron yield and high cooling performance. In these facilities, high-intensity proton beams (having a power of 1 MW at 25 Hz repetition rate with 1 ms pulse duration in the J-PARC, for example) hit mercury to produce spallation neutrons.…”