Post irradiation examination of a nickel plated fuel element from PT-IP-207-A (RM-306)
A .0005 inch thick chemically nickel plated, C-64 aluminum clad, natural uranium, internally and externally cooled, Hanford production fuel element, which had incurred a ``side hot spot`` during irradiation, was shipped to the Radiometallurgy Laboratory in June 1959 for post irradiation examination. The slug vas irradiated to approximately 400 MWD/T in C Reactor as part of PT-IP-207-A. The examination was requested by personnel from Process Engineering, Fuels Preparation Department and Process and Reactor Development, Irradiation Preparation Department to determine the irradiation behavior cf nickel plated fuel elements and to aid in evaluating the nickel plated fuel element program. The presence of the nickel plate probably averted a ``side hot spot`` failure. Al-Si spheroidization and Ni-Al diffusion indicated that the maximum surface temperature vas 325--350{degrees}C for at least one hundred hours, however no sloughing of the nickel vas seen in the ``hot spot.`` Sloughing of the nickel plate, associated with poor nickel bonding, vas observed near the cap end of the slug. The condition my have been aggravated by the formation of hydrogen gas originating from the diffusion of atomic hydrogen through and/or from the nickel plate into the voids between the nickel and aluminum in poorly banded areas. Observations prompted the establishing of tests of other nickel plated slugs from PT-IP-207-A to determine whether or not hydrogen gas vas being trapped under the plate. These tests are currently in progress. The aluminum canwall was attacked intergranularly in a few localized areas near the cap end of the slug. The attack was observed only where a crack in the nickel plate was coincided with an unbonded area of the nickel and aluminum. There was no undercutting of the plate by corrosion to cause sloughing of the nickel.
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co., Richland, WA (United States). Hanford Atomic Products Operation
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 10155142
- Report Number(s):
- HW--62441; ON: DE94012689
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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