Nanoprecipitates to Enhance Radiation Tolerance in High-Entropy Alloys.

The growth of advanced energy technologies for power generation is enabled by the design, development, and integration of structural materials that can withstand extreme environments, such as high temperatures, radiation damage, and corrosion. High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are a class of structural materials in which suitable chemical elements in four or more numbers are mixed to typically produce single-phase concentrated solid solution alloys (CSAs). Many of these alloys exhibit good radiation tolerance like limited void swelling and hardening up to relatively medium radiation doses (tens of displacements per atom (dpa)); however, at higher radiation damage levels (>50 dpa), some HEAs suffer from considerable void swelling limiting their near-term acceptance for advanced nuclear reactor concepts.

SEM and TEM data of nuclear graphite and glassy carbon microstructures.

Micrographs of multiple nuclear graphite grades were captured using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), complementing the data contained in the related manuscript, "A multi-technique image library of nuclear graphite microstructures of historical and modern grades." The SEM micrographs show the differences among filler particles, binder, and thermal cracks contained in nuclear graphite. This library of microstructures serves as a baseline of as-received material and enables understanding the phases and differences between nuclear grades.

Microstructural characterization data of as received IG-110, 2114 and ETU-10 nuclear graphite grades and oxidation characterization data of IG-110.

This manuscript provides optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy micrographs that show the microstructure of three superfine nuclear graphite grades IG-110, 2114 and ETU-10. This collection of microstructural data showcases the microstructure of these materials and helps to differentiate the most important features or phases of these graphite grades. In particular, the microstructural data illustrate the filler and binder morphology of these grades.

Data on Cu- and Ni-Si-Mn-rich solute clustering in a neutron irradiated austenitic stainless steel.

The data presented in this article is supplementary to the research article "Phase instabilities in austenitic steels during particle bombardment at high and low dose rates" (Levine et al.) [5]. Needle-shaped samples were prepared with focused ion beam milling from a 304L stainless steel that was irradiated with fast neutrons (E 0.

On the Elevated Temperature Thermal Stability of Nanoscale Mn-Ni-Si Precipitates Formed at Lower Temperature in Highly Irradiated Reactor Pressure Vessel Steels.

Atom probe tomography (APT) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) techniques were used to probe the long-time thermal stability of nm-scale Mn-Ni-Si precipitates (MNSPs) formed in intermediate and high Ni reactor pressure vessel steels under high fluence neutron irradiation at ≈320 °C. Post irradiation annealing (PIA) at 425 °C for up to 57 weeks was used to determine if the MNSPs are: (a) non-equilibrium solute clusters formed and sustained by radiation induced segregation (RIS); or, (b) equilibrium G or Γ phases, that precipitate at accelerated rates due to radiation enhanced diffusion (RED). Note the latter is consistent with both thermodynamic models and x-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements.

Nitrogen adsorption data, FIB-SEM tomography and TEM micrographs of neutron-irradiated superfine grain graphite.

This manuscript provides raw nitrogen gas adsorption data, images and videos obtained from a technique that combines Focused Ion Beam (FIB) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) known as FIB-SEM tomography and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) micrographs. This collection of data is useful for characterization of the effects of high fluence neutron irradiation in nuclear graphite as described in the associated manuscript, "Mesopores development in superfine grain graphite neutron-irradiated at high fluence" (Contescu et al., 2019).

Nanoscale Stoichiometric Analysis of a High-Temperature Superconductor by Atom Probe Tomography.

The functional properties of the high-temperature superconductor Y1Ba2Cu3O7-δ (Y-123) are closely correlated to the exact stoichiometry and oxygen content. Exceeding the critical value of 1 oxygen vacancy for every five unit cells (δ>0.2, which translates to a 1.

Characterization of Ordering in A-Site Deficient Perovskite CaLaTiO Using STEM/EELS.

The vacancy ordering behavior of an A-site deficient perovskite system, CaLaTiO, was studied using atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) in conjunction with electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), with the aim of determining the role of A-site composition changes. At low La content (x = 0.2), adopting Pbnm symmetry, there was no indication of long-range ordering.

Imaging of radiation damage using complementary field ion microscopy and atom probe tomography.

Radiation damage in tungsten and a tungsten-tantalum alloy, both of relevance to nuclear fusion research, has been characterized using a combination of field ion microscopy (FIM) imaging and atom probe tomography (APT). While APT provides 3D analytical imaging with sub-nanometer resolution, FIM is capable of imaging the arrangements of single atoms on a crystal lattice and has the potential to provide insights into radiation induced crystal damage, all the way down to its smallest manifestation--a single vacancy. This paper demonstrates the strength of combining these characterization techniques.

The effect of electronic energy loss on irradiation-induced grain growth in nanocrystalline oxides.

Grain growth of nanocrystalline materials is generally thermally activated, but can also be driven by irradiation at much lower temperature. In nanocrystalline ceria and zirconia, energetic ions deposit their energy to both atomic nuclei and electrons. Our experimental results have shown that irradiation-induced grain growth is dependent on the total energy deposited, where electronic energy loss and elastic collisions between atomic nuclei both contribute to the production of disorder and grain growth.

Raised herd somatic cell count due to Staphylococcus aureus following the failure of an automatic teat spraying system.

This study describes the failure of a single jet exit race automatic teat spray (ATS) system resulting in the spread of Staphylococcus aureus infection in a 135-cow dairy herd, which showed an increased herd somatic cell count from 91,000/ml to 554,000/ml over a nine-month period. S aureus was isolated from 34 of 46 high cell count cows. The milking procedures were modified and manual teat spraying was restarted.

Structural modification of nanocrystalline ceria by ion beams.

Exceptional size-dependent electronic-ionic conductivity of nanostructured ceria can significantly alter materials properties in chemical, physical, electronic and optical applications. Using energetic ions, we have demonstrated effective modification of interface volume and grain size in nanocrystalline ceria from a few nm up to ∼25 nm, which is the critical region for controlling size-dependent material property. The grain size increases and follows an exponential law as a function of ion fluence that increases with temperature, while the cubic phase is stable under the irradiation.

Household water treatment using sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) tablets: a randomized, controlled trial to assess microbiological effectiveness in Bangladesh.

We assessed the microbiologic effectiveness of sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) tablets used on a routine basis at the household level by a vulnerable population. In a 4-month trial in Dhaka, Bangladesh, one half of the 100 participating households received NaDCC tablets and instructions on how to use the same; the other one half received a placebo and the same instructions. Monthly samples of stored drinking water from intervention households were significantly lower in thermotolerant coliforms (TTCs) than those of control households (geometric mean, 2.

Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) tablets as an alternative to sodium hypochlorite for the routine treatment of drinking water at the household level.

Household water treatment using sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) has been recognized as a cost-effective means of reducing the heavy burden of diarrhea and other waterborne diseases, especially among populations without access to improved water supplies. Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC), which is widely used in emergencies, is an alternative source of chlorine that may present certain advantages over NaOCl for household-based interventions in development settings. We summarize the basic chemistry and possible benefits of NaDCC, and review the available literature concerning its safety and regulatory treatment and microbiological effectiveness.