NSUF 15-533: Electron tomography of Fe-U-Pu-Zr systems
Plutonium-uranium-zirconium (Pu-U-Zr) alloys have attracted attention for application in advanced fast reactors. Compatibility of the fuel with cladding is one of the most important factors that have to be considered prior to an alloy’s implementation in nuclear reactor environment. Interdiffusion between fuel and cladding is imperative for understanding of the useful lifetime of nuclear reactor components and fuels. The project aims to characterize complex phases formed upon heat treatment of diffusion couples constructed from Pu-U-Zr alloys and Fe cladding. To achieve the project objective, we propose using a combination of complementary techniques including transmission and scanning-transmission electron tomography (ET), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), and energy filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM). This will allow a comprehensive analysis of the sample, which is of particular importance in examination of fuel-cladding chemical interaction because it will provide key understanding of the system in 3D at the nano scale, which has not been previously achieved in transuranic-bearing fuels. This proposal requests access to focused ion beam (FIB) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) for thorough characterization of formed intermetallic phases. The proposed work will lead to enhancement of fundamental understanding of fuel performance and fuel-cladding chemical interaction.
Additional Info
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Plutonium-uranium-zirconium (Pu-U-Zr) alloys have attracted attention for application in advanced fast reactors. Compatibility of the fuel with cladding is one of the most important factors that have to be considered prior to an alloy’s implementation in nuclear reactor environment. Interdiffusion between fuel and cladding is imperative for understanding of the useful lifetime of nuclear reactor components and fuels. The project aims to characterize complex phases formed upon heat treatment of diffusion couples constructed from Pu-U-Zr alloys and Fe cladding. To achieve the project objective, we propose using a combination of complementary techniques including transmission and scanning-transmission electron tomography (ET), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), and energy filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM). This will allow a comprehensive analysis of the sample, which is of particular importance in examination of fuel-cladding chemical interaction because it will provide key understanding of the system in 3D at the nano scale, which has not been previously achieved in transuranic-bearing fuels. This proposal requests access to focused ion beam (FIB) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) for thorough characterization of formed intermetallic phases. The proposed work will lead to enhancement of fundamental understanding of fuel performance and fuel-cladding chemical interaction. |
| Award Announced Date | 2014-12-04T00:00:00 |
| Awarded Institution | None |
| Facility | None |
| Facility Tech Lead | Yaqiao Wu |
| Irradiation Facility | None |
| PI | Assel Aitkaliyeva |
| PI Email | [email protected] |
| Project Type | RTE |
| RTE Number | 533 |