During the selection and application of materials used for construction of a nuclear facility, many different material properties and factors must be considered depending upon the requirements for each specific application. Generally, these consist of both non-fuel reactor materials, used for structural and component construction, and fuel materials. This course discusses some of the considerations used in the selection process for plant materials including material properties, fuel, fuel cladding, reflector material, control materials, and shielding materials.

Topics Covered Include:

• Properties Considered When Selecting Materials
• Fuel Materials
• Cladding and Reflectors
• Control Materials
• Shielding Materials
• Nuclear Reactor Core Problems
• Plant Material Problems
• Atomic Displacement Due to Irradiation
• Thermal and Displacement Spikes Due to Irradiation
• Effect Due to Neutron Capture
• Radiation Effects in Organic Compounds
• Reactor Use of Aluminum