ORCID
- Katie L. Jones: 0000-0002-5999-8472
- Giuliano M. Laudone: 0000-0001-6966-1163
Abstract
Gas pycnometry and mercury porosimetry are used to investigate the porous network of Gilsocarbon nuclear graphite samples that are representative of the material present in the cores of UK Advanced Gas-Cooled reactors at different stages of the reactors’ operational lifetimes. Irradiation and radiolytic oxidation change the pore volume of nuclear graphite and the relative ratios of open (coolant gas accessible) and closed pore volume. Particular focus has been paid to the deformation of the Gilsocarbon graphite observed during mercury intrusion at high pressure, which has previously marred the use of porosimetry to characterise this material. The results show clear trends in the evolution of the Gilsocarbon graphite porous space. Semi-quantitative deductions are made that will assist the modelling of the evolution of the pore space in the context of the safe extension of the reactors’ working lifetimes.
DOI Link
Publication Date
2020-01-01
Publication Title
Carbon
Volume
158
ISSN
0008-6223
Acceptance Date
2019-11-25
Deposit Date
2024-06-04
Embargo Period
2020-12-13
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
First Page
256
Last Page
266
Recommended Citation
Jones, K., Matthews, G., & Laudone, G. (2020) 'The effect of irradiation and radiolytic oxidation on the porous space of Gilsocarbon nuclear graphite measured with mercury porosimetry and helium pycnometry', Carbon, 158, pp. 256-266. Available at: 10.1016/j.carbon.2019.11.084
