Abstract
Gamma-irradiation is known to produce significant damage in non-metallic materials, ranging from color centers in alkali halide crystals and the dissociation of sulfur in CdS to enhanced diffusion of solute in semiconductors. There is a growing body of evidence that changes also occur in metals where an effect is not expected on the usual theoretical bases. The evidence includes gamma-irradiation enhanced catalytic activity of silver accompanied by morphological changes of the catalyst particles and pronounced microstructural changes in several commercial aluminum alloys as well as high purity Al-Mg alloys. In the latter case, TEM studies showed that precipitates may be dissolved and reprecipitated during irradiation at room temperature. The mechanism for such changes is not understood. It is important to investigate the possibility of such damage in the types of alloy systems which may be called into service as components of future fusion reactors, the first wall of which will be exposed to intense gamma flux.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)