Preliminary results of post-irradiation examinations on LiSoR-2 test section

Liquid–solid reaction under irradiation (LiSoR) experiments are aimed at understanding the effects of liquid lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE) corrosion and embrittlement under irradiation on structural materials, which is one of the key items of the materials R&D for the future accelerator-driven system (ADS). The LiSoR setup is basically a LBE loop with a test section irradiated with 72 MeV protons. The second irradiation was conducted for about 34 h and terminated after a leakage of LBE was detected. Post-irradiation examinations (PIE) are being performed on both the tube and tensile specimen in the test section. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and microhardness tests have been completed. The results show that a crack formed in the irradiation zone of the tube. In the material in the irradiation zones of both the tube and the tensile specimen dislocation cell structure is well developed, which indicates heavy deformation due to thermal fatigue. The crack should start at the inner surface and propagate to the outer surface. The fracture surfaces of the crack are dominated by a brittle cleavage fracture mode. However, on the surfaces of the tensile specimen, no microcracks are observed.