ELECTROCONDUCTIVITY OF ALUMINIUM ALLOYS IRRADIATED WITH NEUTRONS

Fuel elements materials at the nuclear reactors while operation are exposed to simultaneous influence of ionizing radiation, temperature and water radiolysis products [1]. Irradiation of fast neutrons (?n> 0,1 MeV) with parameters (fluence, temperature, medium), specific for their operation at the research reactors, mainly influences on mechanical properties of materials, raising their stability and reducing plasticity [2]. Irradiation, changing material structure, also changes kinetics of alloy’s ageing process [3] which determines electrical resistance. Previously we have carried out investigation of reactor irradiation influence on microstructure and microhardness of SAV-1 and AMG-2 alloys [4]. It is shown, that after irradiation oxidizing of surface amplifies, and insoluble intermetallic phases of Al-Mg-Si-Fe system are shattered and diffused, becoming practically uniform on all volume. It is determined, that under irradiation influence the microhardness of alloys is essentially increased in primary irradiation to fluence of 1017 n/cm2 and linearly grows at further fluences up to 1021 n/cm2. In the given work, influence of irradiation on electric conductivity and change of linear dimensions of these alloys is investigated.