MEGAPIE samples delivered to partners for post irradiation investigation

The MEGAWatt Pilot Experiment was operated for neutron generation with the PSI high intensity proton beam in 2006. The experiment utilized liquid target material, a lead bismuth eutectic. This marked a major milestone towards Accelerator Driven Systems (ADS), which are intended to be used for the incineration of nuclear waste. Now, after a 5 year long campaign at PSI and in ZWILAG, unique material samples from the irradiated target have been produced and distributed amongst the partners of this international initiative. The sample material – mostly structural material used for the construction of the target vessel – will, for the first time ever, allow scientists to investigate damage of these materials due to irradiation and liquid metal corrosion/erosion at the same time. On May 15th 2013 the last shipment of samples has left PSI towards Japan. With more than 800 material samples the post irradiation examination of MEGAPIE is the biggest effort of its kind. PSI scientists from NUM, GFA and NES were involved in the project.