A Surprising Discovery
A recent study from the University of Tokyo revealed that concrete can self-heal when exposed to nuclear radiation. This surprising discovery could improve the safety and longevity of nuclear power plants.
The research team, led by Professor Ippei Maruyama, has studied radiation’s effects on concrete for over a decade. They found that when concrete is exposed to neutron radiation, the quartz crystals inside expand due to a process called amorphization. However, this expansion isn’t permanent.
Healing Under Different Radiation Doses
The team observed that higher radiation doses cause greater expansion. Concrete exposed to lower doses has more time to heal, as the distorted crystals recover and the expansion decreases.
This discovery suggests that concrete degradation in nuclear power plants may not be as severe as once thought. This could allow plants to operate more safely for longer periods.
Next Steps in Research
The team emphasizes that their findings are still preliminary. They plan to continue studying how concrete expands and heals under different radiation conditions. This will help them develop more accurate models for predicting long-term behavior.
This research is a major step in understanding how radiation affects concrete. It could lead to safer, more durable materials and designs for nuclear power plants.