| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2023 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Microstructural, Mechanical and Chemical Behavior of Solid Nuclear Fuel and Fuel-cladding Interface
|
| Presentation Title |
Characterization of Crystal Structure Evolution in U-2wt.%Zr Using Neutron Diffraction with Particular Focus on the Beta-Uranium Phase |
| Author(s) |
Sven C. Vogel, Michael Benson, Jason M. Harp, Yi Xie |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Sven C. Vogel |
| Abstract Scope |
Studies of the U-Zr phase diagram are motivated by alloys such as U-10wt.%Zr being leading fuel candidates for sodium-cooled fast reactors due to high fissile density, high thermal conductivity, ease of fabrication, and good compatibility with coolants. In the Zr-lean part of the phase diagram, the occurrence of beta-uranium, with its large tetragonal unit cell containing 30 atoms, is reported. However, experimental characterizations of such alloys with diffraction methods are very rare. Here, we present results on thermal cycling of U-2Zr characterized by time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction, during which the beta-uranium phase was observed. The data is compared with results from U-0.5Ti, an analog to pure uranium with the addition of a small amount of titanium atoms preventing the otherwise inevitable grain growth, inhibiting accurate characterization with diffraction methods. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Nuclear Materials, Characterization, |