Materials science

The materials and corrosion facilities provide fully equipped laboratories for physical and chemical testing of materials.  Capabilities within the materials and corrosion discipline include:

• metallurgy, and radioactive metallurgy
• corrosion studies
• material properties for design and safety assessment
• metallic, graphite, and polymer properties
• mechanical testing of components and materials
• testing at high stresses and high temperatures
• tribology
• failure analysis
• thermal ageing studies
• high temperature oxidation
• leak sealing (in situ treatment of inaccessible pipework)
• oil and gas applications (eg failure investigation, inhibitor testing)
• wasteform characterisation and formulation
• graphite treatment and disposal

The high temperature capability includes

• metal dusting tests
• oxidation studies
• tube burst testing
• high temperature steam
• metal ignition tests