Production of 28 μm zirconium carbide kernels using the internal gelation process and microfluidics

Hunt, Rodney Dale; McMurray, Jake W.; Helmreich, Grant W.; Eckhart, Brian D.; McAlister, Abbey L.; Nelson, Andrew T.

doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2019.151870

Production of 28 μm zirconium carbide kernels using the internal gelation process and microfluidics

Journal Article · Mon Oct 28 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Journal of Nuclear Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2019.151870· OSTI ID:1606960

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Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Studies using internal gelation and microfluidics have shown that the production of sintered spheres with diameters below 200 mm is possible. The addition of carbon can be problematic because of slow flow rates (100 mL/min) and long run times (4 h). However, we report a solution of dispersed carbon, Cabot’s TPX-101, was successfully used with solutions of zirconyl nitrate, urea, and hexamethylenetetramine to make zirconium microspheres with carbon. A simple carbothermic reduction using a maximum temperature of 2073 K and ultrahigh purity argon produced zirconium carbide kernels with an average diameter of 28 mm and a standard deviation of 2.3 mm.

Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 1606960

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1580390

Journal Information:: Journal of Nuclear Materials, Journal Name: Journal of Nuclear Materials Journal Issue: C Vol. 528; ISSN 0022-3115

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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