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ZIRCALOY-UO$sub 2$ FAILURES TIED TO FLUORIDES

Journal Article · · Nucleonics (U.S.) Ceased publication
OSTI ID:4078450
Two pairs of defected Zircaloy-sheathed UO/sub 2/ fuel elements were irradiated in a pressurized water loop. The elements in each pair were identical except that the UO/sub 2/ in one contained 340 to 560 ppm of fluorine as CaF/sub 2/, whereas, the other had < 6 ppm. The specimens with the high fluoride content failed rapidly with extensive sheath cracking and hydriding, whereas the low- fluoride ones were virtually unchanged. Thus the hypothesis is confirmed that the reported failure of similar fuel elements in the Vallecitos Boiling Water Reactor is due to the accidental high fluorine content found in the UO/sub 2/. (D.L.C.)
Research Organization:
Atomic Energy of Canada, Ltd., Chalk River, Ont.
NSA Number:
NSA-15-011531
OSTI ID:
4078450
Journal Information:
Nucleonics (U.S.) Ceased publication, Journal Name: Nucleonics (U.S.) Ceased publication Vol. Vol: 19: No. 3; ISSN NUCLA
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English