LILLA, Liquid Lead Laboratory (EMMA)

The LIquid Lead LAboratory (LILLA) is part of the EMMA laboratories.

The EMMA laboratories provides the infrastructure for mechanical tests in ambient and corrosive environments from cryogenic to high temperatures at the macro and micro scales.

LILLA is situated at the Joint Research Centre in Petten (the Netherlands), allows performing mechanical tests of materials in liquid lead with controlled dissolved oxygen concentrations for temperatures up to 650°C.

It gives the possibility to study liquid metal embrittlement phenomena / environmentally assisted cracking, and the effect of stress, temperature and oxygen content in lead on corrosion mechanisms, as well as to test the lead chemistry instrumentation.
Within the frame of this open call, the following facilities may be accessed:

• The LILLA facility, with a range of temperatures in lead from 380°C to 650°C and oxygen concentrations in lead from saturation down to at least 10^–10 weight%;
• Two test sections with load or displacement control accomplished through pneumatic bellows-based system and with the following parameters:
  • Test type: tensile, fracture toughness, creep, small punch;
  • Maximum load: 12 kN, push/pull;
  • Maximum displacement: 5 mm;
  • Displacement rates: 10^–8 to 10^–2 mm/s;
  • Fatigue: maximum 0.1 Hz;
  • Test / hold times: at least 100 s up to 1,000 h;
  • Each test section is equipped with its own Pt-air reference electrode oxygen sensor and thermocouple.
• A glovebox for cleaning of specimens.

Supporting 3D profilometry, microstructural analysis (light optical microscope /LOM/, scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry /SEM–EDX/), and Vickers micro hardness (0.1 kg – 20 kg) can also be offered.

Priority topics of LILLA

1. Safety and reliability of nuclear components for future nuclear systems
2. Support to the development and adaptation of European Codes and Standards
3. Characterisation of mechanical properties of candidate and new corrosion-resistant high-temperature materials, incl. surface modifications and welded joints
4. Development of test and assessment methods as well as instrumentation to achieve easier and more reliable estimates of material properties using sub-size or miniaturised specimens
5. Imaging techniques for opaque medium

Definition and conditions of access

The LILLA facility can be continuously operated with duration depending on the test programme. The typical duration is 4–12 AUs. The latter is representative for performing a tensile test in high-temperature liquid lead with controlled oxygen content. Two tensile tests can be performed simultaneously. At the same time, two corrosion tests (without load) can be conducted as well.

• Estimated total number of Access Unit allocated to the call: 24 AU
• Average number of Access Unit per Project: 12 AU (corresponding to two mechanical tests in two test sections and two corrosion tests)

Access Unit (AU) = 20 hours

Options for the allocation of intellectual property rights:

• The JRC and the entitled party (person or organisation that has been granted access) become co-owners in equal shares of all raw data, treated data and documentation data developed with respect to the access.

or, when the users run the Research Infrastructure

• Raw data, treated data and documentation data will be solely owned by the entitled party. The JRC receives a non-exclusive, royalty free, unlimited and world-wide license to use (meaning in particular to access, exploit, adapt, merge, translate, copy and store) the raw data, processed data and documentation data in all fields of exploitation. Where relevant, the license will include all the data / information necessary to replicate the tests.

Eligibility criteria

• The Lead User Institution and User Institutions ( see definitions in the Framework) must be from an EU Member State, or country associated to the Euratom Research Programme (Switzerland and Ukraine).
• The Lead User Institution must be from a university, research or public institution, or from a Small-Medium-Enterprise (SME).
• Ethical considerations in accordance with EU Law, in particular Art. 19 of Regulation (EU) 1291/2013, and applicable laws and regulations in the EU Member States.
• The proposal submission form is complete and complies with the instructions.

Selection criteria

Any proposal will be scrutinised in accordance with weighted selection criteria such as:

• Scientific implementation
• Collaboration and access to new Users
• Strategic relevance to the JRC
• Strategic importance for Europe

How to apply

The proposal must be prepared by using the template given in Annex 3.1 of the Framework.

During preparation of the proposal, applicants are encouraged to:

• Read the "Framework of Access to Joint Research Centre physical Research Infrastructures" and its annexes.
• Contact the research infrastructure at JRC-OPEN-LILLAec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-OPEN-LILLA[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) to assess feasibility aspects related to the capacity of the research infrastructure.

The proposal should be submitted to JRC-RI-OPEN-ACCESSec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-RI-OPEN-ACCESS[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) by the closing date of the call.

Additional instructions: contact JRC-OPEN-LILLAec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-OPEN-LILLA[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) before or during the preparation of proposal on:

• Material
• Test parameters
• Specimen geometry

Also specify the level of experience of the user(s) to perform related tests.

Communication of the assessment of proposals:2020-04-01 00:00:00

Related Content

Selection Criteria Background Documents

The 6 Priorities of the European Commission

JRC Thematic Focus Areas