Fabricability

DOE-HDBK-1017/2-93 Plant Materials PROPERTIES CONSIDERED WHEN SELECTING MATERIALS Fabricability Fabricability is a measure of the ease with which a material can be worked and made into desirable shapes and forms. Many components of a nuclear reactor have very complicated shapes and forms and require very close tolerances. Therefore, fabricability is an important consideration in the manufacturing of these components. Heat Transfer Good heat transfer properties are desirable from the fuel boundary to the coolant in order that the heat produced will be efficiently transferred. For a constant amount of heat transfer, a degraded heat transfer characteristic requires higher fuel temperature, which is not desirable. Therefore, desirable heat transfer properties in the selection of reactor materials, especially those used as core cladding and heat exchanger tubes, are a major consideration. Cost Capital costs for building a typical nuclear facility can be millions of dollars. A major portion of the cost is for plant material; therefore, cost is an important factor in the selection of plant materials. Mechanical Strength Preventing release of radioactive fission products is a major concern in the design, construction, and operation of a nuclear plant. Therefore, mechanical strength plays an important role in selecting reactor materials. High mechanical strength is desirable because of its possible degradation due to radiation damage and the need to contain the radioactive liquids and fuel. Rev. 0 Page 3 MS-05