NDE for material characterisation of ageing due to thermal embrittlement, fatigue and neutron degradation

The contribution reports to R&D results obtained in both a German programme sponsored by the minister of economics and social affairs, and the European EURATOM programme. Whereas in the first project material degradation due to thermal aging is investigated, in the second project neutron exposed specimens from national surveillance programmes of nuclear power plant (NPP) pressure vessels were characterised in the hot cell of the research reactor in Petten, The Netherlands, and fatigue specimens especially prepared in LCF-tests were measured by electromagnetic and micro-magnetic non-destructive testing and evaluation (NDT/NDE)-techniques. The objective was to characterise the material degradation.