Coated U3Si2 pellets with enhanced water and steam oxidation resistance
A method of forming a water resistant boundary on a fissile material for use in a water cooled nuclear reactor is described. The method comprises coating the fissile material, such as a pellet of U3Si2 and/or the grain boundaries, to a desired thickness with a suitable coating material, such as atomic layer deposition or a thermal spray process. The coating material may be any non-reactive material with a solubility at least as low as that of UO2. Exemplary coating materials include ZrSiO4, FeCrAl, Cr, Zr, Al—Cr, CrAl, ZrO2, CeO2, TiO2, SiO2, UO2, ZrB2, Na2O—B2O3—SiO2—Al2O3 glass, Al2O3, Cr2O3, carbon, and SiC, and combinations thereof. The water resistant layer may be overlayed with a burnable absorber layer, such as ZrB2 or B2O3—SiO2 glass.
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse Electric Co., LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- NE0008222
- Assignee:
- Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Cranberry Township, PA)
- Patent Number(s):
- 10,803,999
- Application Number:
- 15/898,308
- OSTI ID:
- 1771507
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 02/16/2018
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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