NSUF 14-463: Synchrotron X-Ray Characterizations of Advanced Accident-tolerant Cladding
We have initiated the plan for developing advanced ceramic coatings on Zr alloys. To date, we have developed many different types of ceramic coatings (e.g SiC, Si3N4, Al2O3). One of the key activities during the development is to study the performance of these advanced cladding in actual off-normal conditions. This proposed research aims to clarify the important oxidation kinetics and mechanical strength of coated zircaloy under simulated LOCA condition (high temperature excursion up to 1200ºC) using synchrotron radiation technique. Synchrotron X-ray possesses higher energy and intensity compared to traditional lab-based X-ray machines, and thus can penetrate a larger volume of material, sufficient enough to represent the bulk material properties. Many of the basic physical and mechanical properties, e.g. internal/residual stress, texture and dislocation structures, can be analyzed based on X-ray diffraction patterns. Moreover, the small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) can characterize microscopic features of the material in addition to the X-ray diffraction (i.e. wide-angle scattering), for example, the dimension and volume fraction of secondary particles and voids. With one shot of synchrotron X-ray, most of the critical microstructural information is obtained from both wide and small angle scattering. The unique application of synchrotron radiation required a higher energy X-ray spectrum that only can be obtained from some of the largest third-generation synchrotron light sources, i.e. European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF, FR), Advanced Photon Source (APS, USA) and SPring-8 (JP). Similar synchrotron radiation experiments, performed at much lower temperature regimes corresponding to reactor normal operating conditions, have been shown to measure both the strain and crystalline state of zirconium oxide grains. The proposed in-situ X-ray diffraction analyses at the APS followed by microstructural characterizations with TEM and SEM will elucidate key physics and mechanisms in the corrosion process of coated zircaloy. Multiple experiments with different coating configurations (composition and thickness of coated thin film) will yield an optimized coating design. The results from this research will not only shed lights on the understanding of fundamental scientific phenomena behind oxidation process in an extreme temperature environment but also carry significant engineering values as it helps to tackle a critical problem with vital technical importance related to nuclear reactors safety.
Additional Info
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Abstract | We have initiated the plan for developing advanced ceramic coatings on Zr alloys. To date, we have developed many different types of ceramic coatings (e.g SiC, Si3N4, Al2O3). One of the key activities during the development is to study the performance of these advanced cladding in actual off-normal conditions. This proposed research aims to clarify the important oxidation kinetics and mechanical strength of coated zircaloy under simulated LOCA condition (high temperature excursion up to 1200ºC) using synchrotron radiation technique. Synchrotron X-ray possesses higher energy and intensity compared to traditional lab-based X-ray machines, and thus can penetrate a larger volume of material, sufficient enough to represent the bulk material properties. Many of the basic physical and mechanical properties, e.g. internal/residual stress, texture and dislocation structures, can be analyzed based on X-ray diffraction patterns. Moreover, the small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) can characterize microscopic features of the material in addition to the X-ray diffraction (i.e. wide-angle scattering), for example, the dimension and volume fraction of secondary particles and voids. With one shot of synchrotron X-ray, most of the critical microstructural information is obtained from both wide and small angle scattering. The unique application of synchrotron radiation required a higher energy X-ray spectrum that only can be obtained from some of the largest third-generation synchrotron light sources, i.e. European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF, FR), Advanced Photon Source (APS, USA) and SPring-8 (JP). Similar synchrotron radiation experiments, performed at much lower temperature regimes corresponding to reactor normal operating conditions, have been shown to measure both the strain and crystalline state of zirconium oxide grains. The proposed in-situ X-ray diffraction analyses at the APS followed by microstructural characterizations with TEM and SEM will elucidate key physics and mechanisms in the corrosion process of coated zircaloy. Multiple experiments with different coating configurations (composition and thickness of coated thin film) will yield an optimized coating design. The results from this research will not only shed lights on the understanding of fundamental scientific phenomena behind oxidation process in an extreme temperature environment but also carry significant engineering values as it helps to tackle a critical problem with vital technical importance related to nuclear reactors safety. |
| Award Announced Date | 2014-05-20T00:00:00 |
| Awarded Institution | None |
| Facility | None |
| Facility Tech Lead | Jeff Terry |
| Irradiation Facility | None |
| PI | Kun Mo |
| PI Email | [email protected] |
| Project Type | APS |
| RTE Number | 463 |