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Application of field emission scanning electron microscopy for observing irradiated fuel materials

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2012

S. Sasaki ,
K. Maeda ,
A. Yamada  and
T. Asaga
S. Sasaki
Affiliation:
Fuel and Material Department, Oarai Research and Development Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 4002 Narita-cho, O-arai-machi, Higashi-ibaraki-gun, Ibaraki 311-1393, Japan
K. Maeda
Affiliation:
Fuel and Material Department, Oarai Research and Development Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 4002 Narita-cho, O-arai-machi, Higashi-ibaraki-gun, Ibaraki 311-1393, Japan
A. Yamada
Affiliation:
JEOL Ltd, 3-1-2 Musashino, Akishima, Tokyo 196-8558, Japan
T. Asaga
Affiliation:
Fuel and Material Department, Oarai Research and Development Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 4002 Narita-cho, O-arai-machi, Higashi-ibaraki-gun, Ibaraki 311-1393, Japan
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Abstract

The microstructure change of the uranium-plutonium mixed oxide fuels (MOX fuels) irradiated in a fast reactor occurs because of a radial temperature gradient. To make detailed observations and elemental analyses of fuel samples, a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) equipped with a wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (WDX) was installed in a hot laboratory.

Because fuel samples have high radioactivities and emit α-particles, the instrument was modified as follows :

  1. 1) The instrument was attached to a remote control air-tight sample transfer unit between a shielded hot cell and the FE-SEM.

  2. 2) The FE-SEM was installed in a lead shield box and the control unit was separately located outside the box.

After the installation, the microscopy and elemental analyses were applied to low burnup fuel samples. High resolution images were obtained and characteristic X-rays (U, Pu, and so on) emitted from the sample surface were measured. The technique has the great advantage of being able to evaluate the irradiated fuels in detail. In future work, samples of even higher radioactive will be observed and analyzed.

Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1475: Symposium NW – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXXV , 2012 , imrc11-1475-nw35-p15
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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References

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