Nuclear Fission and Fusion Materials: Irradiation-Induced Degradation and Irradiation-Induced Enhancement

Abstract: This talk will explore the seemingly paradoxical concepts of irradiation degradation and irradiation enhancement of materials properties.  The nuclear energy community has historically viewed irradiation as a means of damaging materials, causing microstructural defects and microchemical gradients that lead to degradation of mechanical properties, premature materials failures, and reduction of operational safety margins.  But on the other hand, irradiation-induced defects can enable access to unique material phases and properties not otherwise accessible or achievable, providing an opportunity to enhance materials performance through tailored irradiations.  This talk will provide examples from both sides of irradiation effects.  Conventional examples of irradiation degradation will be drawn from our work on structural steels.  We will then discuss the use of irradiation to enhance the electrochemical performance of metal oxide ceramics.  Mechanisms of irradiation-induced order and disorder transformations will be discussed as a potentially unifying explanation.

Bio: Janelle P. Wharry is a Professor of Mechanical Science & Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  Her research group focuses on understanding structure-property-functionality relationships in irradiated materials, with emphases on mechanisms of deformation and phase transformation.  The group’s active projects span nuclear structural and cladding alloys, advanced manufacturing and joining methods, metallic nuclear fuels, and electroceramic materials.  Dr. Wharry has mentored 28 graduate and post-doctoral researchers, and has published 100+ peer-reviewed journal articles and refereed conference papers.  She is an Editor of Materials Science & Engineering A and Materials Today Communications. Dr. Wharry was General Chair of the inaugural 2019 Materials in Nuclear Energy Systems (MiNES) Conference and currently serves as Chair of the US Department of Energy Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF) Science Review Board.  She is a recipient of the TMS Brimacombe Medal, ANS Landis Award, DOE Early Career Award, and National Science Foundation CAREER Award.