About this Abstract |
Meeting |
MS&T22: Materials Science & Technology
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Symposium
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Tackling Structural Materials Challenges for Advanced Nuclear Reactors
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Presentation Title |
BCC CrAl Thin Film, A Solution for Next-generation High-performance Inert Gas Cooled Nuclear Microreactors |
Author(s) |
Sumit Bhattacharya, Yinbin Miao, Nicolas E. Stauff, Claudio Filippone, Abdellatif Yacout |
On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Sumit Bhattacharya |
Abstract Scope |
Next generation high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear microreactors (micro-HTGR), operated in harsh environments at or beyond 700 oC under radiation and thermal cycling conditions, demands rapid turnaround development of high-performance materials for prompt deployment of reactor technologies with higher efficiencies to reduce spent fuel production and carbon emissions. Given the considerable time and cost needed to develop/qualify new structural materials for advanced reactors, advanced surface modifications applied to qualified nuclear materials has been regarded as an optimal approach to enhance micro-HTGR performance. This report provides the results of a surface modification technology represented by a thin film developed with CrAl (BCC phase) alloy uniquely suited for high-temperature applications due to its; (a) exceptional thermal phase stability at elevated temperatures (~900 oC); (b) immunity from oxidant contaminants typically found in industrial grade inert gas coolants, after exposures to multiple high temperature thermal cycling; and (c) radiation tolerance, under high temperature thermal cycling conditions. |