SEDL / STP / STP1125-EB / STP17910S

Electrical Conductivity of Single Crystal α-Alumina under Neutron and γ-Ray Irradiation

Shikama, T
Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Oarai Ibaraki Ken,

Narui, M
Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Oarai Ibaraki Ken,

Ochiai, A
Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Oarai Ibaraki Ken,

Kayano, H
Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Oarai Ibaraki Ken,

Endo, Y
Oarai Researchment Establishment, Japan Atomic Research Institute, Oarai Ibaraki Ken,

Pages: 9    Published: Jan 1992

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Abstract

Recent advances in nuclear-fusion-reactor development renewed interest in the well-known phenomenon called radiation-induced conductivity (RIC). RIC involves an increase of electrical conductivity of ceramic insulators under exposure to ionizing irradiation. We tried to measure RIC of single crystal a-alumina in the fission reactor JMTR. The a-alumina was encapsulated in a well electrically insulated casing and was exposed to fast neutron irradiation up to 3.4 × 10¹⁷ n/m² s and to γ-ray irradiation up to 1.5 × 10⁴ Gy/s. The measured RIC was 0.6 to 1.5 × 10^-5 (ohm m)^-1 at the maximum exposure rate. Temperature dependence of the RIC was not observed in the present experiment, and the RIC was found to depend on the 0.75th power of reactor power.