Exploring constituent redistribution in irradiated U-19Pu-14Zr fuel via electron probe microanalysis

Wright, Karen E.; Lecrivain, Lindsey; Pincock, Cortney; Coleman, Magen; Wiscaver, Pamela; Barker, Beau; Albuquerque, Luiza Gimenes Rodrigues; Capriotti, Luca; Aitkaliyeva, Assel

doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2024.155411

Exploring constituent redistribution in irradiated U-19Pu-14Zr fuel via electron probe microanalysis

Journal Article · Tue Sep 17 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · Journal of Nuclear Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2024.155411· OSTI ID:2513386

^[1]; Lecrivain, Lindsey ^[2]; Pincock, Cortney ^[2]; Coleman, Magen ^[2]; Wiscaver, Pamela ^[2]; ^[2]; ^[2]; ^[2]; Aitkaliyeva, Assel ^[3]

Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States); Delft Univ. of Technology (Netherlands)
Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)

Here, the phenomena of constituent redistribution, wherein a previously homogeneous metallic fuel forms discrete, radially concentric compositional zones upon irradiation was investigated by examining an irradiated U-19Pu-14Zr fuel (where numbers represent wt. %) with a burnup of 11.5 at.% with electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and quadruple inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (Q-ICP-MS). EPMA-generated U, Pu, and Zr compositional data obtained from a diameter traverse of the sample was converted to mass and was used to: 1) compare the overall fuel element analysis results between the two methods, 2) determine the number of compositionally distinct zones forming as a result of constituent redistribution; and 3) quantify the post-irradiation loss or gain of U, Pu, and Zr atoms in each distinct compositional zone. Weight percent concentrations of U, Pu, and Zr for the overall cross section compare favorably between the two analytical methods, suggesting that the spatially resolved EPMA analysis complements bulk chemical analysis. Among the four identified compositional zones, post-irradiation quantification of U, Pu, and Zr elemental atom content changes shows that the quantity of U atoms lost from the innermost zone is slightly less than the quantity of U atoms gained by the middle two zones, and the quantity of Zr atoms lost from the high-U third zone is slightly less than is gained by the two innermost zones. Pu is lost from all four zones, although the innermost zone and the high-U third zone lose a significantly higher percentage (> 22 %) of their initial Pu atoms than the other two zones. For all three elements, EPMA cannot distinguish between atoms lost due to transport to a different zone from atoms lost due to nuclear processes; however, the insight gained from using this process can be used to experiment with new modeling techniques to predict constituent redistribution in U-Pu-Zr fuels.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

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

Grant/Contract Number:: AC07-05ID14517

OSTI ID:: 2513386

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2447483

Report Number(s):: INL/JOU--24-78321-Rev000

Journal Information:: Journal of Nuclear Materials, Journal Name: Journal of Nuclear Materials Vol. 603; ISSN 0022-3115

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Exploring constituent redistribution in irradiated U-19Pu-14Zr fuel via electron probe microanalysis

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