CARBIDE FUEL DEVELOPMENT. Progress Report, April 1, 1963 to June 30, 1963

Technical Report · Mon Sep 30 04:00:00 EDT 1963

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4055233· OSTI ID:4055233

Taylor, K; Anderson, J; Strasser, A; Stahl, D

Experiments were performed to synthesize carbon stabilized (UPu)O. The products were mixtures of dioxideand monoxide-type phases, and contained about 1 wt% carbon. Measurements of lattice parameters vs time indicated a change with (U/sub 0.8/Pu/sub 0.95/)C/sub 0.95/ which was not evident with (U/sub 0.95/Pu/sub 0.05/)C/sub 0.98/. Microprobe analyses of (U/sub 0.8/Pu/sub 0.2/)C/sub 0.95/ + 0.1% Ni concluded that the second-phase sesquicarbide had a higher Pu/U ratio than the monocarbide matrix. Compatibility tests between (U/sub 0.95/Pu/sub 0.05/ )C/sub 0.98/ and type 316 stainless steel, niobium, and niobium-- 1% zirconium alloy for 1000 hr at 816 deg C showed no reaction. Zircaloy-2 is believed to have reacted with the fuel at a temperature as low as 593 deg C, after 1000 hr. Examination of coefficient of expansion specimens after testing showed no change in chemical analysis or microstructure. All (U/sub 0.8/Pu/sub 0.2/)C/sub 0.95/ specimens operated in-pile, close to design conditions. Four specimens reached their target burnups of 4.9 x 10/sup 20/ fissions/cm/sup 3/, and were removed from the reactor for post-irradiation examination. (auth)

• Research Organization: United Nuclear Corp. Development Div., White Plains, N.Y.; Carborundum Co, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
• NSA Number: NSA-18-016426
• OSTI ID: 4055233
• Report Number(s): UNC-5068
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BURNUP
CARBON
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
EXPANSION
FABRICATION
FISSION
FUELS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
LATTICES
MEASURED VALUES
METALLOGRAPHY
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
MIXING
NICKEL
NIOBIUM
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
PHASE DIAGRAMS
PLANNING
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM CARBIDES
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
REACTORS
STAINLESS STEEL-316
STAINLESS STEELS
TEMPERATURE
TESTING
URANIUM
URANIUM CARBIDES
URANIUM OXIDES
VARIATIONS
ZIRCALOY
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS