Grant: Industrial Research Chairs

Nuclear power provides a large fraction of the electricity needed to meet the energy requirements of Canada and many other industrialized countries. It is one of the few proven technologies that can supply large-scale base-load electricity without generating greenhouse gases. This is particularly important in the province of Ontario where nuclear power already supplies 50% of the electrical energy consumed. Sustained operation of nuclear power plants is expected to be a part of our future balanced energy supply strategy. Key requirements for public acceptance of nuclear power are the safe operation of reactors and the implementation of a safe system for the long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel. A challenge facing both of these needs is potential corrosion where ionizing radiation is present. This can affect the integrity and lifetimes of reactor structures and the spent fuel waste containers. The Chair program is aimed at developing the knowledge and tools to address these and other issues arising from radiation-induced corrosion. The Chair and her group have previously established a world-leading laboratory for radiation-assisted corrosion studies. In collaboration with materials research groups at Western, Canadian research laboratories, and other institutes around the world, sophisticated corrosion studies have been performed. This has led to fundamental understanding of: (1) steady-state water radiolysis chemistry, (2) radiation-induced uniform corrosion of reactor materials (carbon steel and stainless steel and cobalt alloys), and (3) the radiolytic formation of solid oxide nanoparticles following corrosion. In the 3rd term of the IRC program, the Chair's research will be extended to address radiolysis chemistry in humid air and confined volumes. It will focus on corrosion in locations such as weld cracks or crevices. These environments are particularly important in addressing Canadian industry needs.