Search
Institute of Materials Engineering

Materials Physics Modelling

Fig1

Partially oxidised ruthenium layers on silicon substrate.
STEM Z-contrast image (top left) shows bright grains of
residual Ru metal. STEM EDS maps show distribution
of oxygen (green), silicon (blue) and ruthenium (red) in
the same area

The focus of ANSTO's Materials Physics Modelling group is the long-term effects of radiation damage on the stability of wasteforms.

The safe immobilisation of radioactive nuclear waste is one of the most important issues facing the nuclear industry.

ANSTO's Materials Physics Modelling group investigates the long-term effects of radiation damage on the stability of wasteforms. The large-scale program not only involves studying and improving nuclear wasteforms, but examining materials that show promise in future reactor designs (GenIV and fusion). The group studies radiation damage both experimentally and by simulation.

The group's work contributes to global community efforts in studying radiation damage while improving and design of new materials for use within reactor environments, such as reactor core linings and fuel additives. The group also provides support for other research programs being undertaken by the Institute of Materials Engineering and, through AINSE, provides access to the group's facilities to the Australian academic community (see capabilities below). This support may involve assisting with the chemical/structural analysis of new
materials to the prediction of materials stability using simulation software.

Fig2

High-resolution images of microporous materials
collected using the Zeiss Ultra Plus FEGSEM

Partnerships and collaborations

  • The University of Melbourne - nuclear materials
  • The University of Sydney - technetium-based materials
  • Curtin University of Technology - simulations of radiation damage
  • The University of St Andrews, Scotland - disorder in materials
  • Argonne National Laboratory - radiation damage of materials.

Recent achievements

The Materials Physics Modelling group recently obtained the first in situ radiation damage results from MAX phase materials (ternary carbides and nitrides), indicating a high tolerance for, and rapid recovery from, damage to a very high degree, making them ideal for use in fusion reactors.

Capabilities

The Materials Physics Modelling group has access to the following analytical facilities in support of its modelling activities:

  • Two scanning electron microscopes (SEM) - Jeol 6300 and Zeiss Ultra Plus. The Zeiss Ultra Plus is capable of very high magnifications with quantitative elemental analysis using energy dispersive X-ray dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), coupled with energy filtered backscattered imaging and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) mapping.
  • Two transmission electron microscopes (TEM) - Jeol 2010F and 2200FS. Both TEMs are capable of high magnification, energy filtering and electron energy loss spectroscopy.
  • Three X-ray diffractometers (XRD) - Panalytical Xpert Pro and two Bruker D8s. The Panalytical Xpert Pro has multiple stages, including variable temperature and multiple sample changing capabilities. The Bruker D8s are capable of running with parallel X-ray beams studying thin films, with an additional stage capable of running to high temperature.
  • The analytical equipment available within the group can probe structure down to one Angstrom resolution (TEM), provide chemical compositions (SEM and TEM), and crystal structure information (XRD). The samples can be studied at various temperatures, hot and cold, using TEM and XRD equipment.
  • Crystallographic orientation and compositional variations of materials on the surface can also be studied by EBSD and EDS using the Zeiss Ultra Plus FEGSEM.

Key contact:

Karl Whittle, Group Leader, Materials Physics Modelling
ANSTO Institute of Materials Engineering
PMB 1, Menai NSW 2234, Australia
Phone: +61 2 9717 3615
Email: karl.whittle@ansto.gov.au