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Phase Analysis of Metallic Plutonium-Containing Fuel Alloys Using Neutron Diffraction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 March 2019

M. H. Mueller ,
J. W. Richardson Jr. ,
R. V. Strain  and
G. L. Hofman
M. H. Mueller
Affiliation:
Fuels and Processes Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439
J. W. Richardson Jr.
Affiliation:
Intense Pulsed Neutron Source Divisions Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439
R. V. Strain
Affiliation:
Fuels and Processes Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439
G. L. Hofman
Affiliation:
Fuels and Processes Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439
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Abstract

Pulsed neutron powder diffraction studies at IPNS have expanded our understanding of the phases present in Integral Fast Reactor (IFR) metal fuel alloys at temperatures in the range of reactor operating conditions. We report results from the binary alloy (U-10wt.%Zr) and ternary alloys (U-8%Pu-10%Zr) and (U-19%Pu-10%Zr). Determining the role and the location of Zr and Pu in these alloys is considered of fundamental importance for maximizing engineering efficiency.

Rietveld profile analysis was utilized to study the phase diagrams. Data were collected at temperatures ranging from 25-650°C. Although the expected U/Pu/Zr phases (α-U, β-U, γ-U, δ-U/Zr/Pu, ζ-U/Pu) were observed in appropriate temperature ranges, there were some unexpected results. Relative amounts of all phases at each temperature were calculated from Rietveld scale factors and inferences were made as to the location of zirconium and plutonium, i.e. amounts in each phase, from site occupancies and absorption characteristics of the phases present. Finally, we were able to identify ZrO and ZrO1-x inclusion phases in the U-Zr alloy present in very small (0.5-1.0%) amounts.

Type
IX. Nonambient Application of Diffraction
Information
Advances in X-Ray Analysis , Volume 34: Thirty-Ninth Annual Conference on Applications of X-ray Analysis, July 30 - August 3, 1990 , 1990 , pp. 447 - 457
Copyright
Copyright © International Centre for Diffraction Data 1990

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