Scientific and Industrial Center “Epsilon”, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia:

V. P. Dmitriev, Senior Researcher
V. G. Nazarov, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, e-mail: nazarov-1952@list.ru
V. P. Tikhonov, Head of Department

Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University named after R. E. Alekseev, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia:

I. O. Leushin, Professor, Head of a Chair “Metallurgical Technologies and Equipment”

This article considers the modern aspects of application of neutron-absorbent corrosion-resistant steels and alloys in nuclear engineering designs. There was made a review of literary sources and calculation-experimental investigations of leading Russian and foreign scientific centers, with following analysis of application efficiency of various neutron-absorbent materials. Laboratory experiments and calculations defined the dependences of neutronabsorbing ability, corrosion-mechanical properties, cold-resistance and weldability of steels on gadolinium content. Inclusion of gadolinium in steels and alloys within its dissolubility significantly increases the ability of materials to absorb neutrons with provision of design reliability due to the saving of high technological, physicalmechanical and corrosion properties of the base material. There are shown the ways of further researches for the development of experimental-industrial and industrial technologies of manufacturing of base metal and gadolinium-containing corrosionresistant steels and alloys with its application, and half-finished products, made of these steels and alloys (flat bars, sheets, pipes with various configuration in section, including welded pipes, foundries and forgings), with further choice and manufacturing of designs (nuclear engineering equipment) and full-scale tests for definition of neutron absorbing ability. These complex researches and tests lead to creation of the basis of wide application of gadolinium-containing materials in prospect designs of neutron absorbers of interim and centralized storage facilities and containers for spent fuel transportation, and in designs of protection screens of nuclear-energetic facilities.

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