About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Metallic Fuels - Design, Fabrication, and Characterization
|
| Presentation Title |
Novel Phase Identification and Characterization: Experimental insights in The U-Tc Binary System for Metallic Fuel Modeling |
| Author(s) |
Josephine Libero-Cruzado, Rebecca Manns, Daniel Koury |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Josephine Libero-Cruzado |
| Abstract Scope |
Despite its high yield in nuclear fuels, technetium remains one of the least studied elements. The U-Tc system has not been assessed, and little experimental data is available. We present a study of U-Tc diffusion couples annealed between 500°C and 900°C. Cross-sections of these couples were investigated using electron probe microanalysis with wavelength-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy to determine concentration profiles, identify distinct phases, and calculate interdiffusion coefficients. Specimens were selected for nanoindentation mapping to correlate mechanical properties to composition. Transmission electron microscopy lamellae were taken from the diffusion zone, and selected area electron diffraction was performed to investigate the various crystal structures. This combination of data reveals and characterizes previously unknown phases, deepens understanding of Tc mobility in fuel, and provides critical inputs for fuel performance modeling. By shedding light on an understudied binary system, this work strengthens the fundamental database needed to design and qualify next-generation metallic fuels. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Nuclear Materials, Mechanical Properties, Characterization |