The effect of fast neutron irradiation on the C33elastic modulus of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite

Abstract
Measurements have been made of the effect of fast neutron irradiation at 150°c on the C33 elastic modulus of very highly oriented graphite of high perfection. It is shown that the modulus is markedly decreased at high damage levels, and that this decrease can be recovered by thermal annealing. A comparison of unirradiated measurements with values appropriate to mono-crystalline graphite suggests that it is the crystal C33 which is reduced by the large effect of irradiation on the crystal c-spacing at 150°c. The implications of this result for the interpretation of changes in the mechanical properties of polycrystalline graphite under irradiation are discussed.

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