Neutron and hard X-ray diffraction studies of the isothermal transformation kinetics in the research reactor fuel candidate U-8 wt%Mo

Exposing uranium-molybdenum alloys (UMo) retained in the γ phase to elevated temperatures leads to transformation reactions during which the γ-UMo phase decomposes into the thermal equilibrium phases, i.e. U2Mo and α-U. Since α-U is not suitable for a nuclear fuel exposed to high burn-up, it is nece...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Journal of applied crystallography. - 1998. - 49(2016), Pt 3 vom: 01. Juni, Seite 923-933
1. Verfasser: Säubert, Steffen (VerfasserIn)
Weitere Verfasser: Jungwirth, Rainer, Zweifel, Tobias, Hofmann, Michael, Hoelzel, Markus, Petry, Winfried
Format: Aufsatz
Sprache:English
Veröffentlicht: 2016
Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk:Journal of applied crystallography
Schlagworte:Journal Article X-ray diffraction isothermal transformation kinetics neutron diffraction nuclear fuels uranium uranium–molybdenum alloys
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Exposing uranium-molybdenum alloys (UMo) retained in the γ phase to elevated temperatures leads to transformation reactions during which the γ-UMo phase decomposes into the thermal equilibrium phases, i.e. U2Mo and α-U. Since α-U is not suitable for a nuclear fuel exposed to high burn-up, it is necessary to retain the γ-UMo phase during the production process of the fuel elements for modern high-performance research reactors. The present work deals with the isothermal transformation kinetics in U-8 wt%Mo alloys for temperatures between 673 and 798 K and annealing durations of up to 48 h. Annealed samples were examined at room temperature using either X-ray or neutron diffraction to determine the phase composition after thermal treatment, and in situ annealing studies disclosed the onset of phase decomposition. While for temperatures of 698 and 673 K the start of decomposition is delayed, for higher temperatures the first signs of transformation are already observable within 3 h of annealing. The typical C-shaped curves in a time-temperature-transformation (TTT) diagram for both the start and the end of phase decomposition could be determined in the observed temperature regime. Therefore, a revised TTT diagram for U-8 wt%Mo between 673 and 798 K and annealing durations of up to 48 h is proposed
Beschreibung:Date Revised 29.09.2020
published: Electronic-eCollection
Citation Status PubMed-not-MEDLINE
ISSN:0021-8898