The Influence of High Energy Proton Irradiation on the Corrosion of Materials

摘要

This paper presents a summary of our current efforts to characterize the realtime corrosion rates of materials during 800 MeV proton radiation at currents up to 0.4 mA. Specially designed corrosion probes, which incorporated ceramic seals, were mounted in flow tubes on a water manifold that allowed samples to be directly exposed to the proton beam at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. The water system that supplied the manifold provided a means for controlling water chemistry, measuring dissolved hydrogen concentration, and measuring the effects of water radiolysis and water quality on corrosion rate. Real-time corrosion rates during proton irradiation increased with average proton beam current. In addition, for any given material type, a trend in corrosion rate with probe location relative to the beam centerline was observed. These results are discussed within the context of particle type, particle flux, and energy deposition.