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Radiation embrittlement and aging mechanisms for NPP reactor pressure vessels and vessel internals have been studied within NPP Plant Life Management activities for the evaluation, prediction, and monitoring of the critical components' service life. The main achievements of the SAFELIFE project, integrating various networks on PLIM issues, are given. Results of neutron embrittlement of model alloys are presented, and surveillance and research data on WWER reactor pressure vessel and other steels are analyzed. Projects for the development of destructive and non-destructive testing of irradiated materials are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EUROATOM research programs aimed at studying aging mechanisms and remedial procedures for structural materials of nuclear reactor components have been analyzed. Within this framework, projects are carried out focusing on the development of non-destructive techniques applied to thermal aging, neutron embrittlement monitoring, improved surveillance for WWER-440 reactors, dosimetry, and the use of various fracture mechanisms for NPP integrity assessment. Among major achievements are the ATHENA project activities on re-embrittlement model validation after annealing and the effect of chemical composition on the embrittlement rate in RPV steels. A brief description is given of the main results of current EUROATOM projects, as well as the goals of the next stage of research within the SAFELIFE network on the NPP Plant Life Management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]