NSUF 12-344: Intercompound Formation and Radiation Responses of Diffusion Couple Made of Depleted Uranium and Metals
The project is aimed to understand intercompound formation and radiation responses of diffusion couples made of deleted uranium (DU) and various metals (Fe, Zr, Ni, Cr and Febased alloys). First, a polished single crystal DU is mechanical bonded with metals and form diffusion couples through thermal annealing in vacuum over a prolonged period, i.e. a few days to a few months, depending on kinetics of metal diffusion and regions of interest in phase diagrams. Second, part of the diffusion couples are irradiated either by heavy ions with high displacement per atom ration. Third, microstructure and microchemistry of samples, with or without irradiation, are compared, by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), focusedion beam (FIB), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and 3-D atom probe tomography (APT). The project expect to have the following significant impact: (1) it will provide validation on phase diagram and phase field theories concerning uranium: (2) it will reveal radiation induced structural changes of different phases; (3) it will accelerate our understanding of fuelcladding interactions; (4) it will help to separate effects from grain boundaries for understanding materials’ intrinsic properties, since single crystals are used for fabrications of diffusion couples. Sample fabrications and ion irradiations will be performed at the Texas A&M University. The focus ion beam (FIB) and lift off technique will be used to prepare specimens and atomic scale characterization will be performed by the Idaho National Laboratory team. The project involves three investigators and one graduate student.
Additional Info
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Abstract | The project is aimed to understand intercompound formation and radiation responses of diffusion couples made of deleted uranium (DU) and various metals (Fe, Zr, Ni, Cr and Febased alloys). First, a polished single crystal DU is mechanical bonded with metals and form diffusion couples through thermal annealing in vacuum over a prolonged period, i.e. a few days to a few months, depending on kinetics of metal diffusion and regions of interest in phase diagrams. Second, part of the diffusion couples are irradiated either by heavy ions with high displacement per atom ration. Third, microstructure and microchemistry of samples, with or without irradiation, are compared, by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), focusedion beam (FIB), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and 3-D atom probe tomography (APT). The project expect to have the following significant impact: (1) it will provide validation on phase diagram and phase field theories concerning uranium: (2) it will reveal radiation induced structural changes of different phases; (3) it will accelerate our understanding of fuelcladding interactions; (4) it will help to separate effects from grain boundaries for understanding materials’ intrinsic properties, since single crystals are used for fabrications of diffusion couples. Sample fabrications and ion irradiations will be performed at the Texas A&M University. The focus ion beam (FIB) and lift off technique will be used to prepare specimens and atomic scale characterization will be performed by the Idaho National Laboratory team. The project involves three investigators and one graduate student. |
| Award Announced Date | 2012-03-28T00:00:00 |
| Awarded Institution | None |
| Facility | None |
| Facility Tech Lead | Yaqiao Wu |
| Irradiation Facility | None |
| PI | Lin Shao |
| PI Email | [email protected] |
| Project Type | RTE |
| RTE Number | 344 |