Microstructural Characterization of U-Nb-Zr, U-Mo-Nb, and U-Mo-Ti Alloys via Electron Microscopy
Ternary uranium molybdenum alloys are currently being investigated for use as dispersion and monolithic nuclear fuels in research reactors. In this study, two such ternary alloys, with compositions U-8Mo-3Nb and U-7Mo-3Ti in wt.%, were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with high angle annular dark field (HAADF) imaging via scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) to identify phase constituents. These alloys were homogenized at 950°C for 96 hours and were expected to be single-phase bcc-!-U. However, upon examination, it was determined that despite homogenization, each of the alloys contained a small volume fraction precipitate phase. Through SEM and XRD, it was confirmed that the matrix retained the bcc-!-U phase, but the precipitate phases could not be identified using these methods. TEM specimens were prepared using site-specific focused ion beam (FIB) in situ lift out (INLO) technique to include at least one precipitate from each alloy. By electron diffraction, the precipitate phases for the U- 8Mo-3Nb and U-7Mo-3Ti alloys were identified as bcc-(Mo,Nb) solid solution and bcc- (Mo,Ti) solid solution, respectively.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE - NE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-05ID14517
- OSTI ID:
- 1005346
- Report Number(s):
- INL/JOU-09-17352
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Phase Equilibria and Diffusion, Journal Name: Journal of Phase Equilibria and Diffusion Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 31; ISSN 1547-7037
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Phase Constituents of Al-rich U-Mo-Al Alloys Examined by Transmission Electron Microscopy
Electron Microscopy Characterization of an As-Fabricated Research Reactor Fuel Plate Comprised of U-7Mo Particles Dispersed in an Al-2Si Alloy Matrix
Related Subjects
ALLOYS
ELECTRON DIFFRACTION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ION BEAMS
MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS
NUCLEAR FUELS
RESEARCH REACTORS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SOLID SOLUTIONS
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
URANIUM
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
dispersion fuel
monolithic fuel
research reactor
ternary uranium molybdenum alloys