[en] Two reactor protection systems are being provided to the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania by Westinghouse and AEA Technology. One system protects against low reactor coolant flow and the other against low operational reactivity margin. This is the first RBMK reactor protection upgrade project involving the supply and installation of equipment by Western companies to receive EBRD funding. (Author)

[en] In this study, fibre laser welds of alloy Ti-6%Al-2%Sn-4%Zr-6%Mo have been characterised. It has been found that although the microstructure of the welds is important in predicting properties, it is not enough to simply characterise the welds based on the microstructure, as crystallographic texturing is also important in determining mechanical properties. The texturing of the fibre laser welds is being characterized using EBSD mapping, with light microscopy to characterize the microstructure. This has been carried out for a weld that has been heat treated for 3 hours at 550 deg. C. At this temperature, relaxation of residual stress will occur, but changes to the microstructure will be minimal. It is planned that EBSD will now be carried out on the as received sample, and the results will be presented, along with a comparison with the heat treated weld