The Carbon Characterization Laboratory (CCL) is located in Labs C19 and C20 of the Idaho National Laboratory Research Center. The CCL was established under the Next Generation Nuclear Plant Project to support graphite and ceramic composite research and development activities. The research conducted in this laboratory will support the Advanced Graphite Creep experiments--a major series of material irradiation experiments within the Next Generation Nuclear Plant Graphite program. The CCL is designed to characterize and test low activated irradiated materials such as high purity graphite, carbon-carbon composites, silicon-carbide composite, and ceramic materials. The laboratory is fully capable of characterizing material properties for both irradiated and nonirradiated materials. Major infrastructural modifications were undertaken to support this new radiological facility at Idaho National Laboratory. Facility modifications are complete, equipment has been installed, radiological controls and operating procedures have been established and work management documents have been created to place the CCL in readiness to receive irradiated graphite samples.

Graphite is widely used in the nuclear industry and in research facilities and this has led to increasing amounts of irradiated graphite residing in temporary storage facilities pending disposal. This publication arises from a coordinated research project (CRP) on the processing of irradiated graphite to meet acceptance criteria for waste disposal.

Nuclear Graphite focuses on the development and uses of nuclear graphite, including machining practices, manufacture, nuclear properties and structure, radiation, and electrical resistance. The selection first discusses the applications of graphite in the nuclear industry, machining practices, and manufacture. Discussions focus on early, current, and future applications of graphite, impregnation, graphitization, purification, general machining techniques, and equipment and methods in the nuclear industry. The book then examines the structure and nuclear and properties of graphite. The text evaluates radiation-induced structural and dimensional changes; radiation effects on electrical and thermal properties; and radiation effects on mechanical properties. Topics include radiation effects on crystal structure, electrical resistance, thermoelectric power, magnetoresistance, coefficient of friction, irradiation under stress, and elastic moduli of nuclear graphite. The book also ponders on stored energy, annealing radiation effects, and gas-graphite systems. The selection is a dependable source of data for readers interested in the applications of nuclear graphite.

Over the past decade significant progress has been achieved in the development of waste characterization and control procedures and equipment as a direct response to ever-increasing requirements for quality and reliability of information on waste characteristics. Failure in control procedures at any step can have important, adverse consequences and may result in producing waste packages which are not compliant with the waste acceptance criteria for disposal, thereby adversely impacting the repository. The information and guidance included in this publication corresponds to recent achievements and reflects the optimum approaches, thereby reducing the potential for error and enhancing the quality of the end product. -- Publisher's description.

Analytical methods used in the Geologic Division laboratories of the U.S. Geological Survey for the inorganic chemical analysis of rock and mineral samples.