POWER REACTOR PROGRAM. Progress Report to E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company for the Period January 1, 1960 through January 31, 1960
Autoradiographic evaluation of clad thickness completed the processing of the two tubes with corps of 3% enriched, unalloyed U prepared for irradiation testing at VBWR. In light of recent tube failures at SRP, the fabrication effort in the experimental tube, program was reoriented. Preparation of full-size tubes with experimental cores was postponed, and the fabrication effort is being concentrated in three areas: preparation of full-size tubes with urelloyed U cores, preparation of Vallecitos-size tubes with cores of U-1 wt.% Si and U-1.5 wt.% Mo, and preparation of tubular specimens with a variety of core composition for irradiation in capsules at Savannah River. The program aimed at finding a metastable beth-phase alloy and developing fabrication of dilute Al alloys was suspended early in the month. A limited experimental program is being undertaken to determine out-of-pile creep behavior of U and selected U alloys. The cause of failure of Zircaloy-2-clad fuel elements in irradiation was not established but ruay be related to strain limitations in the fuel element. A program was inltiated to evaluate, in outof-pile tests, factors which might affect fuel element service life by limiting ductility of the element or its components. A mechanical burst test method was developed for testing strain limits of appropriate materials. Supplementary tests were run to determine the extent of hydrogen picked up by the cladding in processing steps involving bright etching and corrosion testing. Additional data concerning corrosion resistance and strength were obtained on extruded stainless steel-Zircaloy rods. A 2-inch- diameter tubular stainless steel-Zircaloy extrusion was subjected to hydrostatic burst testing. Progress in the program on cost reduction in Zircaloy etching is reported in several areas. (For preceding period see NMI7223.). (W.L.H.)
- Research Organization:
- Nuclear Metals, Inc., Concord, Mass.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(30-1)-1565
- NSA Number:
- NSA-14-023219
- OSTI ID:
- 4158983
- Report Number(s):
- NMI-7224
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Sponsor Agreement No. S-31. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-60
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ADSORPTION- CORROSION- DUCTILITY- ECONOMICS- EXTRUSION- FUEL CANS- FUEL ELEMENTS- HYDROGEN- MATERIALS TESTING- METALLOGRAPHY- RODS- STABILITY- STAINLESS STEELS- STRESSES- TENSILE PROPERTIES- ZIRCALOY
ALUMINUM ALLOYS- CREEP- FABRICATION- QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS- URANIUM- URANIUM ALLOYS
ENRICHMENT- FAILURES- FUEL CANS- IRRADIATION- MATERIALS TESTING- MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS- PREPARATION- RADIOAUTOGRAPHY- THICKNESS- - TUBES- URANIUM- URANIUM ALLOYS- URANIUM SILICIDES
FAILURES- FUEL CANS- FUEL ELEMENTS- IRRADIATION- STRESSES- ZIRCALOY