When these neutrons collide with atoms in materials such as metal, they knock a series of atoms out of the crystal structure forming an empty space and an interstitial atom. This is called displacement damage. As this damage accumulates and more and more atoms are knocked out of place, the crystal structure is degraded with the crystal structure eventually disappearing entirely (becomes amorphous). This structural change has significant effects on the mechanical properties of the material and thus increases the risk of malfunction and failure.
EPAC will be capable of producing both neutron and proton beams at energies high enough to induce displacement damage. The addition of a second beamline in the future will enable samples to be exposed to damaging radiation while simultaneously being inspected using x-ray radiography and CT capabilities. EPAC will also be able to perform ‘in-situ’ testing by exposing samples to radiation while they are under simulated service conditions. This will contribute to the understanding of how radiation interacts with matter assisting development of reactor materials and modelling approaches.
