Data from a study of radiation damage to the vessel of a reactor from the retired atomic icebreaker Lenin are used to determine the radiation embrittlement characteristics of the metal. Irradiation by a low neutron flux of 1010–1011 cm−2sec−1 at the beginning of operation is found to correspond to more intense embrittlement of the metal. Then, apparently, as harmful elements are depleted in the matrix of the metal, embrittlement is reduced until there is a change in sign relative to the standard curve obtained for neutron fluxes above 1013 cm−2sec−1. It is proposed that, because of irradiation by low fluxes of neutrons in the peripheral zones of reactor vessels during some stages of operation, these zones may be damaged to a greater extent than those lying closer to the core. The irradiating neutron flux is a factor that influences the embrittlement of reactor vessel materials, so there is some interest in studying how material is damaged in the vessels of power reactors with low radiation loads which are under development. This is also needed in order to evaluate the efficacy of measures undertaken to reduce the effect of neutron irradiation on reactor vessels.
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Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 105, No. 4, pp. 201–205, October, 2008.
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Krasikov, E.A., Nikolaenko, V.A. Reconstruction of metal embrittlement in a reactor vessel of the atomic icebreaker Lenin. At Energy 105, 257–261 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-009-9094-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-009-9094-5