NOMATEN HYBRID-SEMINAR April 8: Understanding synergistic effects of radiation and corrosion in structural materials

Date

NOMATEN HYBRID-SEMINAR

online: https://meet.goto.com/NCBJmeetings/nomaten-seminar
In-person: NOMATEN seminar room (102)

Tuesday, APRIL 8th  2025 1 PM (CET)

Understanding synergistic effects of radiation and corrosion in structural materials

Dr. Saurabh Mohandas
DIFFER (Dutch Institute of Fundamental Energy Research), Eindhoven, Netherlands

 

Abstract:

Small modular reactors (SMRs), with capacities ranging from 30 to 300 MWe per unit, offer a scalable and compact alternative to traditional large-scale nuclear plants. They provide a promising solution to meet the growing energy demands driven by technology sectors like AI and data centers. These advanced reactors utilize molten salt as both fuel and coolant, exposing structural materials to the combined effects of high-temperature corrosion and intense irradiation from neutron fluxes. Understanding both corrosion- and irradiation-induced material degradation mechanisms is crucial for selecting suitable component materials.

At DIFFER, we have developed a cutting-edge facility called DICE (DIFFER's Irradiation Corrosion Experiment), a unique platform that enables simultaneous proton irradiation and salt corrosion experiments. In addition, we have built a dedicated setup for a sequential approach - first irradiation, then corrosion - to evaluate the effects of individual environments on material performance.

In this talk, I will present the challenges associated with conducting such complex experiments and discuss the innovative techniques and methodologies we have developed to overcome these challenges, enabling a deeper understanding of material degradation mechanisms in harsh reactor environments.

 

Bio:

I, Saurabh Mohandas, am a postdoctoral researcher at DIFFER (Dutch Institute of Fundamental Energy Research), Eindhoven, Netherlands, where I explore the irradiation and corrosion effects on structural materials. I did my PhD from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India, where I studied corrosion behavior of superalloys. 

 

 

 

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This project has received funding from the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 857470 and from European Regional Development Fund
via Foundation for Polish Science International Research Agenda PLUS programme grant
No MAB PLUS/2018/8.
Poland
The project is co-financed from the state budget within the framework of the undertaking of the Minister of Science and Higher Education "Support for the activities of Centers of Excellence established under Horizon 2020".

Grant: 5 143 237,70 EUR
Total value: 29 971 365,00 EUR
Date of signing the funding agreement: December 2023

The purpose of the undertaking is to support entities of the higher education and science system that have received funding from the European Union budget in the competition H2020-WIDESPREAD-2018-2020/WIDESPREAD-01-2018-2019: Teaming Phase 2. in the preparation, implementation and updating of activities, maintenance of material resources necessary for carrying out activities, acquisition and modernization of scientific and research apparatus, maintenance and development of personnel potential necessary for the implementation of activities, and dissemination of the results of scientific activities.