Phase Characteristics of a U-20Pu-3Am-2Np-15Zr Metallic Alloy Containing Rare Earths
Metallic fuel alloys consisting of uranium, plutonium, and zirconium with minor additions of americium and neptunium are under evaluation for potential use to transmute long-lived transuranic actinide isotopes in fast reactors. The current irradiation test series design, designated AFC2, includes minor additions of rare earth elements to simulate expected fission product carry-over from the electrochemical molten salt reprocessing technique. The metal fuel alloys have been fabricated by an arc casting technique. The as-cast fuel alloys have been investigated for phase and thermal properties, specifically, enthalpies of transition, transition temperatures, and room temperature phase characteristics. Results and observations related to these characteristics for the “fresh” fuel alloys are provided. The alloy compositions are based on a U-20Pu-3Am-2Np-15Zr alloy, along with additions of 1 and 1.5 wt% RE (at the expense of U) where RE denotes rare earth alloy of cerium, lanthanum, praseodymium and neodymium). Phase behavior and associated transitions have been compared to available U-Pu-Zr ternary diagrams with acceptable agreement. Enthalpies of transition were deconvoluted from heating and cooling thermal traces for relatively reliable values. The rare earth additions to the base alloy have a minimal influence on the room temperature phases present, but the room temperature phases present slightly impacted the enthalpies of transition and transition temperatures.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE - NE
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC07-05ID14517
- OSTI ID:
- 968656
- Report Number(s):
- INL/JOU-08-14973; JALCEU; TRN: US0904782
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Alloys and Compounds, Vol. 239, Issue 12; ISSN 0925-8388
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALLOYS
AMERICIUM
CASTING
CERIUM
FAST REACTORS
FISSION PRODUCTS
HEATING
IRRADIATION
LANTHANUM
MOLTEN SALTS
NEODYMIUM
NEPTUNIUM
PLUTONIUM
PRASEODYMIUM
RARE EARTH ADDITIONS
RARE EARTH ALLOYS
RARE EARTHS
REPROCESSING
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
URANIUM
ZIRCONIUM
Fast Reactor Fuel Alloys
Minor Actinides
Rare Earths
Thermal Analysis
X-Ray Diffraction