GRAIN SIZE STUDY ON IRRADIATED POWDER METAL URANIUM
Metallographic and ultrasonic grain size determinations were found to be in good agreement. The particular slug selected for examination had deformed badly on one end after an exposure of 424 Mwd/T, while the other end was not deformed sufficiently to be noticeable to the unaided eye. Gae wafer was cut from each end of the slug. The wafer from the greatly deformed end showed a grain size in the order of 0.10 millimeter nominal diameter, while the wafer from the slightly deformed end had smaller grains of about 0.01 millimeter nominal diameter. Sufficient data for a rigorous evaluation of the effects of irradiation on normal uranium grain size were not yet obtained. The limited pest- irradiation metallographic observation of U to date suggests that irradiation has little effect on the grain size up to 424 Mwd/T. Thus, within these uncertainties, the 0.10 or 0.01 mm grain size observed in the powder metal slug might be expected to compare with normal U grain size of about 0.10 mm if quenched from the beta phase, or about 0.05 mm if quenched from the beta phase followed by an anneal in the alpha phase. An unexplained pattern of circles was observed on the wafer from the severely deformed end. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-52
- NSA Number:
- NSA-14-018212
- OSTI ID:
- 4156974
- Report Number(s):
- HW-36453
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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