Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2025
09:18
Laser-heating and Radiance Spectrometry for the Study of Nuclear Materials in Conditions Simulating a Nuclear Power Plant Accident
Published on: December 14, 2017
10.4K
FeCrNi medium entropy alloys as potential shielding materials for nuclear applications
Samah A Al-Shelkamy1, Mohamed S El-Nagdy2, Hector Rene Vega-Carrillo3
1Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, New Valley University, P.O. Box: 72511, New Valley, Egypt.
Summary
Medium entropy alloys show promise for nuclear reactor shielding. Their nuclear properties were evaluated against neutron and gamma radiation, indicating potential for enhanced reactor efficiency and safety.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Metallic alloys are fundamental in nuclear reactor construction.
- Evaluating advanced materials for improved nuclear power plant safety and efficiency is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the nuclear shielding properties of three medium entropy alloys.
- To compare these alloys with traditional stainless steels for nuclear applications.
Main Methods:
- Calculation of key shielding parameters: linear attenuation coefficient, half-value layer, tenth-value layer, mean free path, effective atomic number (Zeff), effective electronic number, and neutron removal cross-section.
- Comparative analysis of medium entropy alloys and stainless steels.
Main Results:
- The effective atomic number (Zeff) for all alloys ranged from 25.46 to 25.93.
- Medium entropy alloy Sample 1 exhibited the lowest neutron absorption and highest density (7.890 ± 0.323 g/cm³).
- Medium entropy alloy Sample 3 showed the highest neutron absorption.
Conclusions:
- Medium entropy alloys demonstrate significant potential as shielding materials in nuclear reactors.
- These alloys could contribute to enhanced efficiency and safety in nuclear power plant units.
Related Concept Videos
02:36Nuclear Power
7.7K
Controlled nuclear fission reactions are used to generate electricity. Any nuclear reactor that produces power via the fission of uranium or plutonium by bombardment with neutrons has six components: nuclear fuel consisting of fissionable material, a nuclear moderator, a neutron source, control rods, reactor coolant, and a shield and containment system.
Nuclear Fuels
Nuclear fuel consists of a fissile isotope, such as uranium-235, which must be present in sufficient quantity to provide a...
Nuclear Fuels
Nuclear fuel consists of a fissile isotope, such as uranium-235, which must be present in sufficient quantity to provide a...
7.7K
02:50Nuclear Fission
9.6K
Many heavier elements with smaller binding energies per nucleon can decompose into more stable elements that have intermediate mass numbers and larger binding energies per nucleon—that is, mass numbers and binding energies per nucleon that are closer to the “peak” of the binding energy graph near 56. Sometimes neutrons are also produced. This decomposition of a large nucleus into smaller pieces is called fission. The breaking is rather random with the formation of a large...
9.6K
03:20Nuclear Transmutation
17.5K
Nuclear transmutation is the conversion of one nuclide into another. It can occur by the radioactive decay of a nucleus, or the reaction of a nucleus with another particle. The first manmade nucleus was produced in Ernest Rutherford’s laboratory in 1919 by a transmutation reaction, the bombardment of one type of nuclei with other nuclei or with neutrons. Rutherford bombarded nitrogen-14 atoms with high-speed α particles from a natural radioactive isotope of radium and observed...
17.5K
01:14Diamagnetic Shielding of Nuclei: Local Diamagnetic Current
843
An applied magnetic field causes the electrons present in the molecule to circulate, setting up a local diamagnetic current within the molecule. The local diamagnetic current arising from circulating sigma-bonding electrons induces a magnetic field, Blocal that opposes the applied magnetic field, B0. The effective magnetic field experienced by these nuclei is given by the difference between the applied and local magnetic fields in a phenomenon called local diamagnetic shielding. Essentially,...
843
03:18Nuclear Stability
18.6K
Protons and neutrons, collectively called nucleons, are packed together tightly in a nucleus. With a radius of about 10−15 meters, a nucleus is quite small compared to the radius of the entire atom, which is about 10−10 meters. Nuclei are extremely dense compared to bulk matter, averaging 1.8 × 1014 grams per cubic centimeter. If the earth’s density were equal to the average nuclear density, the earth’s radius would be only about 200 meters.
To hold positively charged protons together...
To hold positively charged protons together...
18.6K
02:37Metallic Solids
18.3K
Metallic solids such as crystals of copper, aluminum, and iron are formed by metal atoms. The structure of metallic crystals is often described as a uniform distribution of atomic nuclei within a “sea” of delocalized electrons. The atoms within such a metallic solid are held together by a unique force known as metallic bonding that gives rise to many useful and varied bulk properties.
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability....
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability....
18.3K