3.4.1 Materials selection

The selection of a material for any chemical process plant is a complicated decision involving many parameters such as corrosion resistance, mechani­cal properties, availability and cost. What makes nuclear plant more demand­ing is the presence of radiation, particularly gamma, and of radioactive contamination of surfaces, usually alpha radiation emitting particles, which need to be decontaminated either on a routine basis or at the end of their life. Not only must the materials perform their function for extended periods of time in non-maintainable areas but this performance has to be demon­strated. The application of the most common materials for nuclear process plant is described below.