Damage in UO₂ Films and Particles During Reactor Irradiation

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1960 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1735544· OSTI ID:4100432

Bierlein, T. K.; Mastel, B.

The effects of reactor radiation in the range 10¹⁶ to 4.4 x 10¹⁹ nvt on thin UO₂ films and UO₂ particles dispersed in thin aluminum films were studied with transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. The irradiations were carried out on samples in air and in evacuated capsules. For UO₂ films of 100 A thickness, regions tend to migrate with increasing exposure to form isolated outgrowths of dense, smooth form in vacuum and of flocculent form in air. For UO₂ particles of 1 to 2 mu diameter in aluminum films, no evidence of UO₂ condensation was found for irradiation in vacuum, whereas for air, condensation was observed for exposures above 5 x 10¹⁷ nvt. At higher exposures (4.4 x 1¹⁹ nvt), the original particles were replaced by flocculent crystals which are similar to those formed in irradiation of UO₂ films in air.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-15-009516
• OSTI ID: 4100432
• Report Number(s): HW-SA-1950; 0021-8979
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 31; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics (AIP)
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
AIR
ALUMINUM
CRYSTALS
DIFFUSION
DISPERSIONS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
FILMS
FLOCCULATION
IRRADIATION
NEUTRON BEAMS
PARTICLES
PRECIPITATION
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTORS
URANIUM DIOXIDE
VACUUM
ZONES