NSUF 18-1553: In-situ high temperature Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) of radiogenic He in high burnup fast reactor MOX

The fuel cross-section mount for the present study will be retrieved, prepared and transported in the framework of another RTE project (#1452). The tasks of our projects are the following: (i) TEM lamellas preparation at IMCL using the shielded FIB, (ii) in-situ TEM analyses at IMCL. Specimens will be cut in the columnar grain region of the fuel and from the as-fabricated grain region, close to the fuel periphery. The location of the specimen will be determined using the SEM/FIB at IMCL. The samples preparation - task (i) - will require a total of 4 days, including preliminary SEM analysis to determine the best location for cutting the TEM lamellas. 5 days will be allocated for task (ii), resulting in a total of 9 days. The project could start as soon as the sample for project #1452 is transported to IMCL. This work is important due to the helium accumulation in the MOX fuel due to alpha decay. The He can growth into bubbles and cause fragmentation of the fuel and challenge the fuel integrity. A peer-reviewed journal article is the anticipated scientific outcome of this experiment.

Additional Info

Field	Value
Abstract	The fuel cross-section mount for the present study will be retrieved, prepared and transported in the framework of another RTE project (#1452). The tasks of our projects are the following: (i) TEM lamellas preparation at IMCL using the shielded FIB, (ii) in-situ TEM analyses at IMCL. Specimens will be cut in the columnar grain region of the fuel and from the as-fabricated grain region, close to the fuel periphery. The location of the specimen will be determined using the SEM/FIB at IMCL. The samples preparation - task (i) - will require a total of 4 days, including preliminary SEM analysis to determine the best location for cutting the TEM lamellas. 5 days will be allocated for task (ii), resulting in a total of 9 days. The project could start as soon as the sample for project #1452 is transported to IMCL. This work is important due to the helium accumulation in the MOX fuel due to alpha decay. The He can growth into bubbles and cause fragmentation of the fuel and challenge the fuel integrity. A peer-reviewed journal article is the anticipated scientific outcome of this experiment.
Award Announced Date	2018-09-17T12:04:19.1
Awarded Institution	None
Facility	None
Facility Tech Lead	Alina Zackrone
Irradiation Facility	None
PI	Brandon Miller
PI Email	[email protected]
Project Type	RTE
RTE Number	1553