My placement at Queen's University, Canada (Callum Andrew, Guest Post)

Callum Andrew, who visited Queen’s over the summer wrote of his experience:

”I am a PhD student within the MIDAS team based at the University of Manchester. My research is focused on the effects of Cu on damage mechanisms in Zr alloys following irradiation – Cu alloying additions have not been studied in great detail compared to elements such as Sn or Fe, so my project will expand on the understanding of the behaviour of Cu in irradiated Zr alloys and the effects of irradiation-induced growth.

Over the past 3 months, I have been on a placement at Queen’s University, Canada. The Nuclear Materials Group, led by Professor Mark Daymond, conducts research on Zr alloys utilised in CANDU nuclear reactors. One of the alloys studied at Queen’s has higher concentrations of Cu than the material I research for my PhD. I am comparing the CANDU material against the material I research for my placement, with the aim of understanding how differing Cu concentrations affect defect evolution in Zr alloys following irradiation. This may provide insight into optimum Cu concentrations for minimising defect generation.

Callum meets fellow Manchester PhD student Patrick Curran who was also on placement with a Canadian research group

I am conducting proton irradiation experiments on the CANDU material at Queen’s, which holds a state of the art accelerator, and I have also brought proton and neutron irradiated samples of the alloy I research to Queen’s. The analysis for the study is being conducted through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction line profile analysis (XRD LPA).

I have had the fortune to be mentored by Matthew Topping in irradiation experimental procedures and TEM techniques, Fei Long in TEM, and Levente Balogh in XRD LPA during my placement, as well as being helped by other students working at Queen’s. Consequently, I have felt extremely welcomed during my stay. I have logged many hours on the TEMs, which has improved my technical abilities considerably in a short space of time. Analysis has yielded fascinating results on the defect evolution of my material and the behaviour of Cu in Zr following irradiation. Moreover, the CANDU material has been prepared into TEM samples for analysis in the UK. On top of all the great research opportunities, I have been able to experience the beautiful country of Canada, travelling to cities like Montreal and Ottawa, as well as seeing majestic sights like Niagara Falls. This has been a fantastic, once-in-a-lifetime experience which I will never forget, although I am looking forward to escaping the mosquitos on steroids that live in Kingston.”

Guest UserSeptember 7, 2023