3. Behavior under operating conditions

3.1 Graphites

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3.1.1 Irradiation damage in graphite

Irradiation damage is caused by particle/matter interactions between the high-energy neutron fission flux, in the range 0.1 to 10 MeV with an average of 2 MeV, and the carbon atoms making up the graphite crystal structure. As the binding energy of carbon atoms in the graphitic plane is around 7 eV, the neutron energy is sufficient to displace the carbon atoms from their initial position in the graphite crystal, as well as transferring a significant amount of kinetic...