%0 Journal Article
%T A Review of Neutron Scattering Applications to Nuclear Materials
%A Sven C. Vogel
%J ISRN Materials Science
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/302408
%X The growing demand for electric energy will require expansion of the amount of nuclear power production in many countries of the world. Research and development in this field will continue to grow to further increase safety and efficiency of nuclear power generation. Neutrons are a unique probe for a wide range of problems related to these efforts, ranging from crystal chemistry of nuclear fuels to engineering diffraction on cladding or structural materials used in nuclear reactors. Increased flux at modern neutron sources combined with advanced sample environments allows nowadays, for example, studies of reaction kinetics at operating temperatures in a nuclear reactor. Neutrons provide unique data to benchmark simulations and modeling of crystal structure evolution and thermomechanical treatment. Advances in neutron detection recently opened up new avenues of materials characterization using neutron imaging with unparalleled opportunities especially for nuclear materials, where heavy elements (e.g., uranium) need to be imaged together with light elements (e.g., hydrogen, oxygen). This paper summarizes applications of neutron scattering techniques for nuclear materials. Directions for future research, extending the trends observed over the past decade, are discussed. 1. Introduction Nuclear power accounts for approximately 13% of all electric power generated in the world and about 20% of the electric power in the United States [1]. For example, the United States alone have 104 operating nuclear power plants in 2012 spread over 31 states, with 35 of these reactors being boiling water reactors (BWRs) and the remaining 69 being pressurized water reactors (PWRs) [2]. Figure 1 shows the fraction of nuclear energy of the total energy production for selected countries. Figure 1: Fraction of electricity generated by nuclear power per country relative to the total electricity production of each country [ 1] (reproduced with permission). Based on the fact that populations and energy demand in many of these countries will continue to grow, it is expected that the ratio of nuclear energy used to produce electricity will continue to grow, in particular in countries like India or China. The need to improve the efficiency and safety of power reactors is therefore of paramount importance from a global perspective. Some of the design features and operation goals of the so-called third-generation reactors are [3](i)a simpler and more rugged design, making them easier to operate and less vulnerable to operational upsets; (ii)higher availability and longer operating life,
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.materials.science/2013/302408/