Irradiated Materials Examination and Testing (IMET)

Facility Capabilities:

Functions that can be performed include tensile testing, laser profilometry, creep testing, Charpy impact and fracture toughness testing, fatigue testing, capsule disassembly, density measurements, microscopic examination, grinding, polishing, welding, shearing, machining, sawing, photography, and video examination. A listing of the equipment capabilities in the six IMET hot cells is given in the following:

Cell 1:

Cell 1 is heavily used for specimen sorting and identification. It contains video equipmentand specialized fixtures to enable rapid determination of specimen identification codes. Alaser profilometer (BETA Laser Mike Model 162) is periodically installed in Cell 1 for several-month campaigns to measure radiation-induced creep in pressurized creep tube specimens. A precision densitometer based on Archimedes principle is used to determine the density (radiation-induced swelling) of metallic specimens with an accuracy of +0.2%for transmission electron microscopy specimens (~15 mg mass).

Cell 2 :

Cell 2 contains a screw driven Instron machine (20 kip load frame) with a turbopumpedhigh temperature (up to 1350 C) furnace chamber that is capable of achieving pressuresbelow 10-7 torr. A variety of load cells and specimen grip systems are used for testingstandard and miniaturized sheet and rod tensile specimens. An automated ball indentationflow properties test system (screw driven frame) is also located in Cell 2 for roomtemperature tension or compression testing. The equipment is capable of testing at very low strain rates, and a variety of ball indenters are available for determination of the yieldand plastic flow properties of irradiated materials. The equipment is upgradable fortesting at temperatures below or above room temperature. A Mitutoyo automatedmicroindentation hardness tester (model AAV-500, capable of Vickers or Knoopindentations) is periodically installed in either Cells 1, 2, or 4 on a campaign mode. The hardness tester is capable of performing automated user-defined indentation patterns atloads from 10 to 1000 grams, and the indentations are automatically analyzed with a 0.3 sreading speed.

Cell 3 :

Cell 3 contains a Tinius-Olsen Charpy impact machine and an MTS servohydraulic 100kip capacity universal testing machine. The Charpy impact tester consists of a semi-automatic loading system that enables consistent control of test temperatures with rapidthroughput. The Charpy impact machine has a 265 ft-lb capacity and is used to test full-size, 1/2-size, and 1/3-size Charpy V-notch specimens at temperatures from –196 to 400C. The MTS machine is used for fracture toughness, 3-point bend, large tensile, andfatigue crack growth and crack arrest measurements in air at temperatures from –175 to 400 C.

Cell 4 :

Cell 4 is equipped with an MTS servohydraulic 20 kip capacity universal testing machine. A high vacuum furnace chamber is available for performing tests between room temperature and 700 C at pressures as low as 1.5x10-8 torr. Strain and load control extensometry are routinely used while conducting these tests. An air-environment annealing furnace capable of operation up to 1000 C is also located in Cell 4. Electrical resistivity measurements on a variety of specimens have been performed in Cell 4 on a campaign basis utilizing coaxial and triaxial cables that are fed from the hot cell through lead-shielded cable ports to the R&D work area. A Cortest slow-strain-rate corrosion/fatigue testing machine is available for installation in Cell 4 on a campaign basis. This equipment consists of a 2 liter, 3.5 ksi @ 320°C Ti autoclave that can measure electrochemical corrosion potential and electrochemical noise as well as perform tension-tension fatigue tests on specimens under stress or strain control.

Cell 5 :

Cell 5 houses an FEI (Philips) XL30 scanning electron microscope equipped with a LaB6 filament. The microscope operation is computer controlled, with internet-interfaced data transfer. All control functions for the microscope can be fully controlled by remote users.

Cell 6 :

Cell 6 contains an EMCO TM02 computer-numerically controlled (CNC, CAD/CAM) milling machine that is programmable for fully automated machining operations. Ten tool stations are available for milling, drilling, etc. It can be used for fabrication of Charpy impact, compact tension, and tensile specimens from bulk irradiated material, and can also be used for minor capsule disassembly. A Wachs guillotine saw and a slow-speed diamond saw are also located in Cell 6, along with a specimen sorting and identification station. The cell is equipped with a 1-ton bridge crane for positioning of heavy equipment.

Equipment (in cell):

• Laser profilometer
• Precision densitometer
• Video equipment
• Instron tensile machine with vacuum chamber
• Automated ball-indention test system
• Instrumented Charpy impact machine
• Computer-controlled servo hydraulic machines
• Annealing furnace
• MTS fatigue testing machine
• Scanning electron microscope
• Computer-numerically controlled milling machine

Other Links of Interest:

Fracture Mechanics Laboratory

Heavy Section Steel Irradiation (HSSI) Program

Materials Science & Technology Division