Radiation Effects in Greases for Use in Facilities Producing Intense Neutron Fields

Abstract

Polymeric components are used in accelerator and target environments where intense neutron and gamma fields are present. Nine commercially available greases were selected to study their radiation-induced functional degradation for use in spallation neutron sources and in facilities producing radioactive ion beams. Grease samples were irradiated in the mixed neutron and gamma field of a nuclear research reactor up to several MGy of total absorbed dose. Methodologies for the irradiation and post-irradiation examination of grease samples are developed. The different degree of radiation tolerance of the tested samples was compared. Some of the greases showed dramatic radiation-induced changes of their physical properties, while others remain stable up to the highest values of delivered absorbed dose.