Einfluß der Zusammensetzung auf die Strahlenversprödung von Eisenlegierungen

The radiation embrittlement of the reactor pressure vessel is highly safety-relevant for VVER-type pressure vessels. The sensitivity against radiation embrittlement depends on the chemical composition of the pressure vessel steel. Using an irradiation experiment at surveillance positions in two Russian VVER 440-type reactors the effects of copper, phosphorus and nickel on the radiation embrittlement should be investigated. For that, eight mock-up alloys were selected. Their chemical composition varied between 0.015 and 0.42 % Cu, 0.002 and 0.039 % P, 0.01 and 1.98 % Ni, 0.09 and 0.37 % Si, and 0.35 and 0.49 % Mn. Charpy-V impact tests and tensile tests were performed with specimens machined from these alloys. The specimens were tested in the as-received state, in the irradiated state (fluence: 1x1019 and 8x1019 /cm2 [E>0.5 MeV]) an in the post-irradiation annealed state. In the as-received state, the alloys have a ferritic microstructure. Apart from Cu, the alloyed elements are solved in the matrix. Irradiation produces strong hardening and embrittlement. The effect increases with the Cu and P content. Ni causes an additional embrittlement. It is independent on the Ni concentration within the range of 1.1 to 2 % Ni and results in a shift of the ductile-brittle transition temperature of about 120 °C after a fluence of 1x1019 /cm2 by a flux of 4x1011 /cm2s. The shift does not depend on the Cu or P content. Furthermore the upper shelf energy is especially reduced by the Ni-rich alloys. For very low content of Cu and P these relations are not valid. The irradiation effect can be eliminated by annealing at 475 °C /100 h. For high content of Cu or P the recovery is incomplete, it remains a residue of 20 to 25 % of the irradiation effect. Ni has no influence on the recovery. Comparing the results of this study with the ones of the surveillance programmes of the VVER 440-type reactors, the alloys with low Ni content show the same irradiation behaviour as the weld metal. For the Ni rich alloys such well-walidated references are missing. The experiment is part of an extended research programme. It supposed to continue in order to gain information about the synergistic effects of these elements

Protein biomarkers in blood reflect the interrelationships between stroke outcome, inflammation, coagulation, adhesion, senescence and cancer

The most important predictors for outcomes after ischemic stroke, that is, for health deterioration and death, are chronological age and stroke severity; gender, genetics and lifestyle/environmental factors also play a role. Of all these, only the latter can be influenced after the event. Recurrent stroke may be prevented by antiaggregant/anticoagulant therapy, angioplasty of high-grade stenoses, and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors. Blood cell composition and protein biomarkers such as C-reactive protein or interleukins in serum are frequently considered as biomarkers of outcome. Here we aim to provide an up-to-date protein biomarker signature that allows a maximum of mechanistic understanding, to predict health deterioration following stroke. We thus surveyed protein biomarkers that were reported to be predictive for outcome after ischemic stroke, specifically considering biomarkers that predict long-term outcome (≥ 3 months) and that are measured over the first days following the event. We classified the protein biomarkers as immune‑inflammatory, coagulation-related, and adhesion-related biomarkers. Some of these biomarkers are closely related to cellular senescence and, in particular, to the inflammatory processes that can be triggered by senescent cells. Moreover, the processes that underlie inflammation, hypercoagulation and cellular senescence connect stroke to cancer, and biomarkers of cancer-associated thromboembolism, as well as of sarcopenia, overlap strongly with the biomarkers discussed here. Finally, we demonstrate that most of the outcome-predicting protein biomarkers form a close-meshed functional interaction network, suggesting that the outcome after stroke is partially determined by an interplay of molecular processes relating to inflammation, coagulation, cell adhesion and cellular senescence

Characterization of aluminum, aluminum oxide and titanium dioxide nanomaterials using a combination of methods for particle surface and size analysis

International audienceThe application of appropriate analytical techniques is essential for nanomaterial (NM) characterization. In this study, we compared different analytical techniques for NM analysis. Regarding possible adverse health effects, ionic and particulate NM effects have to be taken into account. As NMs behave quite differently in physiological media, special attention was paid to techniques which are able to determine the biosolubility and complexation behavior of NMs. Representative NMs of similar size were selected: aluminum (Al 0) and aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3), to compare the behavior of metal and metal oxides. In addition, titanium dioxide (TiO 2) was investigated. Characterization techniques such as dynamic light scattering (DLS) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) were evaluated with respect to their suitability for fast characterization of nanoparticle dispersions regarding a particle's hydrodynamic diameter and size distribution. By application of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in the single particle mode (SP-ICP-MS), individual nanoparticles were quantified and characterized regarding their size. SP-ICP-MS measurements were correlated with the information gained using other characterization techniques, i.e. transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The particle surface as an important descriptor of NMs was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). NM impurities and their co-localization with biomolecules were determined by ion beam microscopy (IBM) and confocal Raman microscopy (CRM). We conclude advantages and disadvantages of the different techniques applied and suggest options for their complementation. Thus, this paper may serve as a practical guide to particle characterization techniques

ASAXS and SANS investigations of the chemical composition of irradiation-induced precipitates in nuclear pressure vessel steels

A combination of small angle neutron scattering and anomalous small angle X-ray scattering was employed to determine the chemical composition of the irradiation-induced precipitates in the 15Kh2MFA steel. The intensity variation at X-ray energies near to the VK-absorption edge proves that the precipitates are vanadium rich. No Cr or Mn were detected in the precipitates. Results of the magnetic contrast variation in the small angle neutron scattering experiments show that the precipitates could be vanadium rich carbides or FeV particles

SANS response of VVER440 type weld material after neutron irradiation, post irradiation annealing and reirradiation

International audienceIt is well accepted that the reirradiation behaviour of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steel after annealing can be different from the original irradiation behaviour. We present the first small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) study of neutron irradiated, annealed and reirradiated VVER440-type RPV weld material. The SANS results are analysed both in terms of the size distribution of irradiation-induced defect/solute atom clusters and in terms of the ratio of total and nuclear scattering intensity in a saturation magnetic field (A-ratio). The measured A-ratio is compared with calculations performed on the basis of the cluster composition reported for a similar weld material investigated by means of three-dimensional atom probe field ion microscopy. The observed deviation between both estimates and possible reasons for the discrepancy are discussed. Special emphasis is placed on the differences between the materials response to the original irradiation and to reirradiation after annealing. The results indicate that reirradiation-induced clusters are slightly different in their average composition and their formation saturates at a lower volume fraction than in the case of the original irradiation