About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
Materials in Nuclear Energy Systems (MiNES) 2025
|
| Symposium
|
Materials in Nuclear Energy Systems (MiNES) 2025
|
| Presentation Title |
Sintering Additives for Improved Densification and Microstructure Control of UN Fuel Kernels |
| Author(s) |
J. Matthew Kurley, Rebekah Petrosky, William Cureton, Katherine Montoya, Andrew Kercher, Wesley Jones, Christopher Hobbs, Rodney Hunt, Andrew Nelson |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Rebekah Petrosky |
| Abstract Scope |
Uranium mononitride (UN) has been proposed as a material for next generation fuel forms as a substitute for uranium dioxide (UO<sub>2</sub>) or uranium carbide and uranium oxide (UCO) kernels. The benefits of UN relative to these traditional materials are threefold: higher uranium density (both), better thermal conductivity (UO<sub>2</sub>), and higher melting point (UCO). However, fabrication of UN presents challenges when high density material is desired. Sintering profiles capable of producing high density UO<sub>2</sub> or UCO often fail to achieve comparable density UN, challenging deployment. The incorporation of sintering additives into sol-gel derived solutions provides a straightforward approach to alleviate difficulties fabricating high-density UN. In this study, sintering additives were systematically introduced into the microsphere precursor solution to investigate downstream effects on the final properties. An accelerated conversion profile was used to test the efficacy of each additive; the same profile does not achieve high-density UN in control microspheres without any additives. The converted kernels were characterized using various techniques to observe how the additives affect composition, microstructure, and bulk properties. In addition to testing additive efficacy, the effect of additive cation, anion, and concentration was studied to better understand the root cause of improved densification. Overall, improved understanding of UN densification will support the development of kernel fabrication methods offering downstream control of microstructure and bulk properties, allowing the development and deployment of new fuel concepts. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |