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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

VOIDS IN IRRADIATED UO$sub 2$

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4036784
Five types of voids which were observed during the metallographic examination of cylindrical UO/sub 2/ fuel elements irradiated under conditions that produce high central core temperatures and large radial temperature gradients are described. Possible relationships between the types of voids and the microstructural changes in UO/sub 2/ which occur during irradiation are discussed. The structural changes in irradiated UO/sub 2/ fuel cores, in order of occurrence from the cladding to the thermal center of the core are: nonsintered UO/sub 2/, sintered U0/sub 2/ and equiaxed grains of UO/sub 2/, small columnar grains of UO/sub 2/, large columnar grains of UO/sub 2/, and macroscopic central void. The types of voids related to these various microstructures are: irregular voids; plate-like voids; tubular, spherical, and irregular voids; macroscopic central void, and large spherical voids. (M.C.G.)
Research Organization:
General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
NSA Number:
NSA-15-024053
OSTI ID:
4036784
Report Number(s):
HW-SA-2219
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English