About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
TMS Specialty Congress 2026
|
| Symposium
|
Energy Materials 2026
|
| Presentation Title |
Thermal Oxidation of Uranium Nitride and Uranium Carbide and Their High Temperature Phases |
| Author(s) |
Xiaofeng Guo, Emma Kindall, Natalie Yaw, William Vance, Matthew Heaney, Sam Karcher, Malin C. Wilkins, John McCloy, Hongwu Xu, Adrien J. Terricabras, Scarlett Widgeon Paisner, Arjen van Veelen, Joshua T. White |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Xiaofeng Guo |
| Abstract Scope |
UC and UN share several key attributes with UO2 fuels, including stability and irradiation tolerance, while offering higher thermal conductivity and higher fissile density. These properties make UC and UN attractive candidates for advanced reactors. Understanding of chemistry and thermodynamics is essential for predicting performance under off-normal and storage conditions.
In this work, we investigate the thermal oxidation pathways of UC and UN using thermogravimetric analysis, in situ X-ray and neutron diffraction, and ex situ XAFS. High-temperature phase stability and thermal expansion coefficients under oxidizing conditions were determined, along with in situ neutron diffraction measurements of uncommon uranium carbide phases (UC2 and U2C3). We further examine potential U(CxO1-x)2 phase formation and equilibrium, highlighting implications for thermodynamic completeness of the U–C–O system. These results provide a foundation for thermodynamic modeling, first-principles calculations, and comparative studies with UO2-based and lanthanide-bearing systems, as well as future UC- and UN-derived waste forms. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |