Stress irradiance

Robust and precise corrosion predictive models are required at different stages of a nuclear reactor hfe. First, in the design phase of the reactor components, corrosion models are needed to guide the choice of the different materials of the reactor regarding the solicitations encountered in each part of the system temperature, fluid velocity, mechanical stress, irradiation, etc. When the materials are selected, corrosion models are needed to validate the thicknesses of the materials for example if a material loss is expected due to corrosion (dissolution or oxidation). Moreover, specific procedures, such as replacement of components after a certain period of life or cleaning procedure to remove an oxide layer can be established thanks to corrosion models. 

In fire presence of a mechanical load, for example the fission gas pressure in a fuel pin or the sodium pressure inside a hexagonal can, another irradiation-induced type of deformation can occur the so-called irradiation creep phenomenon that is a macroscopic plastic strain occurring along the direction of the stress. Irradiation swelling and creep are correlated because both of these phenomena are exclusively related to the evolution toward the point defects of the sinks of the vacancies and interstitials generated in the atomic colhsion cascades produced inside the crystal lattice by the... 

Transformations in the Solid State. From a practical standpoint, the most important soHd-state transformation of PB involves the irreversible conversion of its metastable form II developed during melt crystallization into the stable form I. This transformation is affected by the polymer molecular weight and tacticity as well as by temperature, pressure, mechanical stress, and the presence of impurities and additives (38,39). At room temperature, half-times of the transformation range between 4 and 45 h with an average half-time of 22—25 h (39). The process can be significantly accelerated by annealing articles made of PB at temperatures below 90°C, by ultrasonic or y-ray irradiation, and by utilizing various additives. Conversion of... 

Graphite will creep imder neutron irradiation and stress at temperatures where thermal creep is normally negligible. The phenomenon of irradiation creep has been widely studied because of its significance to the operation of graphite moderated fission reactors. Indeed, if irradiation induced stresses in graphite moderators could not relax via radiation creep, rapid core disintegration would result. The observed creep strain has traditionally been separated into a primary reversible component ( ,) and a secondary irreversible component (Ej), both proportional to stress and to the appropriate unirradiated elastic compliance (inverse modulus) [69]. The total irradiation-induced creep strain (ej is thus ... 

Essential for induction ofthe/Z-5 gene in inflammatory reactions is the binding site for nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB). NF-kB responds to cytokines, stress, free radicals, ultraviolet irradiation, and bacterial, viral, or even parasitic antigens [2]. NF-kB stands for a family of subunits, which form homo-, and heterodimers. All NF-kB proteins share a highly conserved DNA-binding/dimerization domain called the Rel homology domain (RHD) consisting of two (3-strand core domains... 

Aqueous plutonium photochemistry is briefly reviewed. Photochemical reactions of plutonium in several acid media have been indicated, and detailed information for such reactions has been reported for perchlorate systems. Photochemical reductions of Pu(VI) to Pu(V) and Pu(IV) to Pu(III) are discussed and are compared to the U(VI)/(V) and Ce(IV)/(III) systems respectively. The reversible photoshift in the Pu(IV) disproportionation reaction is highlighted, and the unique features of this reaction are stressed. The results for photoenhancement of Pu(IV) polymer degradation are presented and an explanation of the post-irradiation effect is offered. 

At low irradiances, photosynthesis uses virtually 100% of the quanta, but in full sunlight, about 2000 imol quanta s , more quanta are available than can be used in photochemistry. Maximum rates of photosynthesis by Populus or Spinacia leaves of 15 and 70 jumol O2 m s , respectively, would require only 15 x 9 = 135 to 630 jumol quanta m s , or 10-40%. Leaves, therefore, need to be able to dissipate 60-90% of the quanta at high irradiance in an orderly manner such as non-radiative decay if they are to avoid the potentially damaging formation of oxygen radicals from reduced ferredoxin (Asada Takahashi, 1987). When plants are under a stress that restricts CO2 assimilation, excessive light will be reached at even lower irradiances. 

Caemmerer, S. von Farquhar, G.D. (1984). Effects of partial defoliation, changes of irradiance during growth, short-term water stress and growth at enhanced p(C02) on the photosynthetic capacity of leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris L. Planta, 160, 320-9. 

Osmond, C.B. (1983). Interactions between irradiance, nitrogen nutrition and water stress in the sun-shade responses of Solatium dulcamara. Oecologia, 57, 316-21. 

Plants are constantly subject to adverse environmental conditions such as drought, flooding, extreme temperatures, excessive salts, heavy metals, high-intensity irradiation and infection by pathogenic agents. Because of their immobility, plants have to make necessary metabolic and structural adjustments to cope with the stress conditions. To this end, the expression of the genetic programme in plants is altered by the stress stimuli to induce and/or suppress the production of specific proteins which are either structural proteins or enzymes for specific metabolic pathways. 

The effect of oxidative irradiation on mechanical properties on the foams of E-plastomers has been investigated. In this study, stress relaxation and dynamic rheological experiments are used to probe the effects of oxidative irradiation on the stmcture and final properties of these polymeric foams. Experiments conducted on irradiated E-plastomer (octene comonomer) foams of two different densities reveal significantly different behavior. Gamma irradiation of the lighter foam causes stmctural degradation due to chain scission reactions. This is manifested in faster stress-relaxation rates and lower values of elastic modulus and gel fraction in the irradiated samples. The incorporation of O2 into the polymer backbone, verified by IR analysis, conftrms the hypothesis of... 

FIGURE 31.13 (a) Plot showing the stress-strain behavior of various irradiated rubbers, (b) Plot showing the variation of tensile strength and modulus of rubbers irradiated with different doses, (c) Plot showing the variation of hysteresis loss, set, and elongation at break of irradiated fluorocarbon rubbers. (From Banik, I. and Bhowmick, A.K., Radial. Phys. Chem., 54, 135, 1999. With permission.)... 

Polyethylene and polystyrene are examples of plastics subject to environmental stress cracking. Crack resistance tests have shown that surfactants, alcohols, organic acids, vegetable and mineral oils, and ethers provide an active environment for stress cracking of polyethylene. Table 6 lists typical sterile devices and plastic materials used to fabricate them, while Tables 7-9 list the potential effects of sterilization processes on polymeric materials. The effect of gamma irradiation on elastomeric closures has been studied by the Parenteral Drug Association [15]. 

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