Iridium-alloy processing experience in FY 1989

Technical Report · Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6414265· OSTI ID:6414265

Ohriner, E K

Iridium-alloy blanks and foil are produced at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory for use as fuel cladding material in radioisotope thermoelectric generators for space power sources. Until 1984, the material was produced from small 500-g drop castings. A new process has been developed in which consumable electrodes of about 10 kg are arc melted, extruded, and then rolled to produce the sheet products. The work performed during FY 1989 included the arc melting of three electrodes and the extruding and rolling to sheet of three billets. Significant improvements have been made in the extruding and arc-melting processes. Preliminary results show that these improvements have had an important effect in increasing the rate of blank acceptance in nondestructive evaluations. 4 refs., 33 figs., 11 tabs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/NE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6414265
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-11565; ON: DE91004972
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
IRIDIUM ALLOYS
EXTRUSION
PROCESSING
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS
FABRICATION
FOILS
FUEL CANS
MELTING
MICROSTRUCTURE
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
ALLOYS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
MATERIALS TESTING
MATERIALS WORKING
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PLATINUM METAL ALLOYS
POWER SUPPLIES
TESTING
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
300303* - Thermoelectric Generators- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
070300 - Isotopic Power Supplies
360101 - Metals & Alloys- Preparation & Fabrication