About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Ceramics and Ceramic-Based Composites for Nuclear Applications III
|
| Presentation Title |
Entrained Hydride Ceramic Composite Moderators for Transforming Reactor Economics |
| Author(s) |
Jason Trelewicz, Luv Gurnani, David J Sprouster, Lance L Snead, Nicholas R Brown |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Jason Trelewicz |
| Abstract Scope |
In small modular reactors (SMRs), the use of graphite as a neutron moderator will constrain the upper design temperature due to its loss of mechanical integrity. Alternative moderators with improved performance will provide options for designing SMRs with expanded performance envelopes at reduced costs. This talk describes ceramic composite moderators composed of magnesium oxide as the matrix and zirconium hydride (ZrHx) as the entrained moderating phase. The composite architecture is achieved through field-assisted sintering at temperatures as low as 900°C and characterized in terms of microstructure, hydride retention, and stability. The microstructures are shown to exhibit a uniform distribution of the entrained hydride phase with X-ray diffraction indicating retention of cubic zirconium hydride. Stability of this phase is mapped through thermal desorption spectroscopy at temperatures within operating envelopes for SMRs as predicted through reactor physics calculations, thereby demonstrating the potential for hydride-entrained ceramic composite moderators to enable novel microreactor designs. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Nuclear Materials, Composites, Powder Materials |