EFFECTS OF HIGH BURNUP AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES ON URANIUM-0.52 AND 1.62 w/ o ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS. Final Report of Metallurgy Program 6.1.16

Technical Report · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1959

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4220796· OSTI ID:4220796

Kittel, J. H.; Paine, S. H.

An investigation of the effects of irradiation on uranium containing 0.52 and 1.62 wt.% zirconium was made. Specimens of wrought material, variously heat treated, were studied as well as castings of the alloys. It was found that, although the wrought and heat-treated alloys were reportedly stable under thermal cycling, they elongated rapidly under irradiation. The best material studied was the 1.62% alloy in the as-cast condition. It was found to increase in length initially at a rate of about 5% per at.% burnup, after which the rate steadily diminished. Up to burnups of at least 5.3 at.% it retained a smooth surface. Two specimens of the cast 1.61% alloy, one irradiated to 2.1 at.% burnup at a calculated central temperature of 690 deg C and the other irradiated to 5.3 at.% burnup at a calculated central temperature of 620 deg C, swelled and increased in volume with the formation of a large central void surrounded by highly porous metal. The critical swelling temperature of urauium--1.62 wi.% zirconium alloy was found to lie between 300 and 620 deg C, with some indications that it may be near 500 deg C. (auth)

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., Lemont, Ill.
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• NSA Number: NSA-14-000681
• OSTI ID: 4220796
• Report Number(s): ANL-5406
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BURNUP
CASTING
DEFORMATION
EXPANSION
HEAT TREATMENTS
HEATING
HIGH TEMPERATURE
IRRADIATION
METALS, CERAMICS, AND MATERIALS
POROSITY
URANIUM ALLOYS
VOIDS
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS