LEXUR-II-LBE an irradiation program in lead–bismuth to high dose

Abstract The LEXUR-II-LBE irradiation program, performed in the BOR-60 reactor (Russia), is aimed to investigate the combined effect of neutron irradiation and exposure to liquid lead–bismuth–eutectic environment on mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of steels which are selected as candidate materials for structural components and fuel assemblies of the future experimental accelerator driven system MYRRHA. These steels are the ferritic/martensitic steel T91 and the two austenitic steels of type 316L and type 15-15Ti. The experiment consists of different sets of lead–bismuth–eutectic filled capsules containing mini tensile, mini disc shaped compact tension specimens, pressurized tubes and corrosion discs. The goal of the experiment is to irradiate two sets of capsules to doses of about 8 and 30 dpa respectively at about 350 °C. In addition, copies of the irradiation capsules were heat treated for the same time as the irradiation lasted. The latter was done to distinct between the effects of exposure to LBE and the combined effect of exposure and neutron irradiation. This article describes the detailed concept and status of the LEXUR-II-LBE project, materials, specimens, construction of the irradiation rig and the parameters of neutron irradiation in the BOR-60 reactor.