NSUF 14-515: Advanced 3D Characterization of Irradiated Zircaloy-4 Cladding
The objective of the project is to characterize an irradiated sample of Zircaloy-4 cladding through combined focused ion beam (FIB), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) techniques in order to produce a multi-section 3D digital representation of the microstructure for use in MARMOT, INL’s phase field modeling framework. A 70 micron x 40 micron x 10 micron sample of Zircaloy-4 cladding previously removed from a BR-3 fuel rod via FIB milling and welded to a standard scanning electron microscopy grid will be utilized for the project. Serial sections of the Zircaloy-4 subvolume will be created by using the FIB to remove a thin layer of material (~200 nm thick), followed by electron imaging and EBSD/EDS analysis of the exposed surface. The process is then repeated until a stack of 2D slices has been produced. Additional post-processing of the 2D slices is necessary to reconstruct the 2D slices into a 3D digital microstructure usable in MARMOT. That work will be conducted separately by the team member as part of his PhD dissertation that is currently funded through the LDRD program. The proposed effort will benefit INL by providing an accurate meso-scale representation of the Zircaloy-4 microstructure necessary for computer modeling efforts. Additionally, it will assist with validation of current and future phase-field models developed at INL. Because the work is highly visible and novel, the research will result in positive exposure to INL within the nuclear community. Further, the research will help to maintain INL’s leadership role in characterization and modeling of radiation damage. It is anticipated that the project will be completed within 6 months.
추가 정보
| 필드 | 값 |
|---|---|
| Abstract | The objective of the project is to characterize an irradiated sample of Zircaloy-4 cladding through combined focused ion beam (FIB), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) techniques in order to produce a multi-section 3D digital representation of the microstructure for use in MARMOT, INL’s phase field modeling framework. A 70 micron x 40 micron x 10 micron sample of Zircaloy-4 cladding previously removed from a BR-3 fuel rod via FIB milling and welded to a standard scanning electron microscopy grid will be utilized for the project. Serial sections of the Zircaloy-4 subvolume will be created by using the FIB to remove a thin layer of material (~200 nm thick), followed by electron imaging and EBSD/EDS analysis of the exposed surface. The process is then repeated until a stack of 2D slices has been produced. Additional post-processing of the 2D slices is necessary to reconstruct the 2D slices into a 3D digital microstructure usable in MARMOT. That work will be conducted separately by the team member as part of his PhD dissertation that is currently funded through the LDRD program. The proposed effort will benefit INL by providing an accurate meso-scale representation of the Zircaloy-4 microstructure necessary for computer modeling efforts. Additionally, it will assist with validation of current and future phase-field models developed at INL. Because the work is highly visible and novel, the research will result in positive exposure to INL within the nuclear community. Further, the research will help to maintain INL’s leadership role in characterization and modeling of radiation damage. It is anticipated that the project will be completed within 6 months. |
| Award Announced Date | 2015-08-11T00:00:00 |
| Awarded Institution | None |
| Facility | None |
| Facility Tech Lead | Yaqiao Wu |
| Irradiation Facility | None |
| PI | Melissa Teague |
| PI Email | [email protected] |
| Project Type | RTE |
| RTE Number | 515 |