MOLLER Spectrometer Magnet Design With Measured Mechanical Properties of Irradiated S2-Glass Reinforced Cyanate Ester Resin at Elevated Temperature

The aim of this study was to retire the risk of maintaining the integrity of S2-glass reinforced CTD-403 (a cyanate ester resin) that is exposed to radiation and elevated temperature over the life of the MOLLER experiment in experimental Hall A at Jefferson Lab. In this paper, the shear strength and flexural modulus of irradiated S2-glass reinforced CTD-403 specimens were measured at 65 °C (the magnets are to operate at less than 65 °C) under two scenarios: vacuum and gaseous nitrogen. The testing method is the Short-Beam Shear (SBS) test according to ASTM D2344. The specimens were exposed to neutrons and gamma-rays up to 124 MGy. The results show that specimens have excellent resistance against radiation, only 23% degradation of apparent shear strength with 124 MGy at 65 °C under vacuum. At the highest dose areas of the coils tungsten plates are used to reduce the radiation dose to the resin system. The conclusion is that S2-glass reinforced CTD-403 is well suited for electrical insulation of MOLLER magnets.