Compressive tests of a graphite used in devices for the production of radioactive beams

SPES (Selective Production of Exotic Species) is an INFN project in advanced construction phase at Legnaro National Laboratories (Padua). The project is aimed at the construction of a facility for the production of radioactive ion beams, for physical and medical research. Due to the severe conditions that will be achieved during operation, owing to the high temperature and severe stresses, graphite is chosen for designing several devices. Experimental tests have been performed to assess the compressive strength of this material with temperature. The tests showed that as temperature increases, the compressive strength increases: at 2000 ◦C there was an average increase of 22% over its room temperature value. Moreover, as the density increases, the strength increases.