| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2021 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Characterization of Nuclear Materials and Fuels with Advanced X-ray and Neutron Techniques
|
| Presentation Title |
Characterization of the Crystal Structure Evolution of U-Zr Alloys Utilizing Time-of-Flight Neutron Diffraction with In-situ-heating |
| Author(s) |
Walter J. Williams, Sven Vogel, Jianzhong Zhang, Maria Okuniewski |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Walter J. Williams |
| Abstract Scope |
Metallic U-Zr alloys are typically operated in nuclear reactors over a 400-750°C temperature range and experience multiple irradiation, chemical, and thermal-induced phenomena that influence both chemistry and microstructure. Decoupling these dependencies is critical to the understanding of material behavior, modelling and simulation, and in-pile safety margins. Time-of-flight neutron diffraction was chosen as the experimental technique for its versatility in sample characterization. This versatility allows for the simultaneous identification of crystallographic phases and measurement of phase specific texture and crystallographic parameters such as lattice parameters, thermal expansion, and site occupation in equilibrium and non-equilibrium systems. Unirradiated samples of U-(6,10,20, and 30)wt.%Zr were analyzed on the High-Pressure-Preferred Orientation beamline at room temperature, during a two-hour 900°C anneal, and during a 1°C/min cooling rate. Data acquisition included extended high-resolution scans and rapid scans capable of capturing phase evolution and transformation kinetics. Data acquisition encompassed over 20,000 neutron diffraction patterns. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Characterization, Phase Transformations, Nuclear Materials |