Overview

The Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA) was established in 1955, its mandate being to enable the country of the efficient utilization of the peaceful applications of nuclear energy. The EAEA has, over years, developed to be the nation's leading research and development institution in nuclear science and technology.

The Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA) consists of FOUR centers:

1- Nuclear Research Center (NRC).

2- Hot Laboratories Center (HLC).

3- National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT).

4- National Center for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Control (NCNSRC).

Metallurgy Department

The Metallurgy Department is one of 13 departments belongs to the Nuclear Research Center which is the eldest and biggest research institute in the EAEA and located in Inshas. The metallurgy Department was established in 1954 with the objective of developing the engineering materials that used in to build the nuclear reactors.

Facilities

The Metallurgy Department at NRC operates quite a few instructional and research labs, all equipped with modern equipment suited for leading-edge research and pedagogy. The instruments operated by highly qualified staff assisted by well-trained technicians.

The Metallurgy Department provides the services of the materials testing and characterizations for all types of engineering materials (metallic and non-metallic materials).

Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

(JEOL JSM 5400)

The JSM-5400 is a modern Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) which uses a tungsten thermionic electron source. It is an excellent general purpose SEM. The SEM is equipped with an onboard image averaging and acquisition system that greatly improves operation under difficult imaging conditions. In addition, there is a PC based active image acquisition system that allows the capture, processing, and electronic storage of high-resolution images. Other accessories include a Backscattered Electron Detector (BSE), and a full-featured PC based Energy Dispersive Analysis System (EDS).

The instrument has an excellent image resolution of 4.0 nm at 30 kV and 8 mm working distance. Captured image file resolution of digitally acquired images is as high as 4000 x 4000 pixels. Furthermore, a variety of image processing operations are available. In addition, the instrument is designed to perform EDS analysis, BSE imaging and high resolution SE imaging at one standard working distance (15 mm) while allowing up to 45° of tilt. The EDS system has a state-of-the-art detector with a resolution of 138 eV at Manganese and a light element detection limit of Boron.

X-ray fluorescence Spectrometer

(Energy Dispersive X-ray fluorescence Spectrometer, Elemental Analyzer JSX- 3201 Series)

The JSX-3201 Elemental Analyzer is designed for speedy, non destructive analysis of the composition and thickness of solid, liquid, powder, and thin film samples. Integrating a high count EDS, the JSX-3201 features an outstanding level of sensitivity.

Differential Thermal Analyzer

(DTA-50, Shimadzu-Japan)

This DTA uses a dumbbell-shaped detector. A temperature controller, gas flow adjuster, and transmission interface have all been incorporated into a slim, 173 cm-wide body. A high-temperature DSC function is also included.

Temperature range: Room temperature to 1500°C
Measurement range: ±0.2 to ±1000 µV (from ±0.2 mW)
Heating speed: 0 to +50°C/min

High Temperature Heat Flux DTA, Provides Quantitative Calorimetry Measurements Quick Response and High Sensitivity Accurate Temperature Control High Temperature DSC Type Performance Rapid Atmosphere Purge.

Thermo-Gravimetric Analyzer

(TGA-50, Shimadzu-Japan)

Precise Measurements to 1 µg.
Efficient Evolved Gas Analysis.
Temperature range: Room temperature to 1500°C.
Heating speed: 0.1°C/hour to 99.9°C/min.
A wide selection of gas atmosphere from air, inert gas, reactive gas including hydrogen to vacuum.
Extensive Selection of Sample Crucibles.

These thermobalances give satisfying performance with respect to all criteria in vibration tolerance, stability, noise level, tolerance of room temperature fluctuations, and more. Changes in mass on the order of several micrograms can be clearly detected.

X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)

( SHIMADZU, X-ray difractometer, XD-3A Series, Japan )

The crystalline phases were determined using X-ray diffractometry (XRD) with CuKa radiation for 2θ = 10^o-80^o.

Fracture Mechanics and Mechanical Properties Laboratory

Aims at testing the structural materials as alloy steels in order to evaluate their tensile, impact and fracture toughness properties.

The fracture mechanics laboratory equipped by:

Instrumental Impact Testing Machine (Amsler) with a capacity of 300 Joules.

Universal Testing Machine (SCHNCK PBS 25) with a capacity of 250 KN to perform tensile and fracture toughness properties.

Creep Testing Laboratory

The Creep Testing Laboratory is equipped with:

1- Five single specimen, lever type creep rigs (MFL Co., Germany) of 1500 Kgs maximum load capacity.

Each rig is equipped with:

- A three Zone furnace of 1000 °C maximum test temperature

- Two mechanical micrometers for measuring strain

2- Multichannel recorder of 32 channels for recording the temperature distribution over the specimen gauge length

3- Two load cells (0.5 - 2 tons) for load calibration.

4 – Muffle furnace with chamber of dimension of 20x10x10 cm and of 1200^o C maximum temperature.

- These facilities enable measuring the following properties: steady state creep rate, creep rate, creep rupture strength and rupture time. It will also give the basis for lifetime prediction of materials.

Zwick Tensile Machine

- The machine used for flat and round specimens.

- The maximum load is 100 KN

- The max length of the specimen is 10 cm for both flat and round specimens.

Rolling Machine

The rolling machine is used for cold rolled specimens to obtain the suitable thickness.

Spark Analyzer(SPECTRO LAB)

Spark Analyzer machine is used to determine the chemical composition of the metallic materials.

Optical Microscopy

( Olympus BH2 Research Optical Microscope )