HIGH-TEMPERATURE IRRADIATION OF UO$sub 2$-BeO BODIES

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1963

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4739395· OSTI ID:4739395

Titus, G W; Saling, J H

As a part of the ML-1 reactor fuel evaluation program, UO/sub 2/-- BeO bodies containing two UO/sub 2/ compositions, 70 and 80 wt% UO/sub 2/, were irradiated to a burnup equivalent to 8750 hours of ML-1 reactor operation (8.5% U/ sup 235/). It was estimated that maximum cladding surface temperatures of 1710 nif- F were attained during irradiation. Reference design burnup for the ML-1 is 9.7% U/sup 235/, in 10,000 hours of operation at maximum clad surface temperatures of 1750 nif- F. Postirradiation examination of the test specimens revealed that the cladding of one of the 80 wt% UO/sub 2/-- BeO specimens had ruptured after severe swelling. All other specimens showed little external effect from the irradiation. Fission gas release from the fuel varied between 0.59 and 2.7% except for the failed specimen which released about 69%. Considerable change was observed in the microstructure of the irradiated specimens although subsequent x-ray diffraction examination did not indicate serious damage to the crystal structure of either the BeO or UO/sub 2/. The data obtained from this experiment are in substantial agreement with that determined in irradiation experiments performed at other facilities. The performance of 70 wt% UO/sub 2/--BeO was considered to be suitable for use in the ML-1 reactor. (auth)

• Research Organization: Aerojet-General Nucleonics, San Ramon, Calif.; Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, Ohio
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-018856
• OSTI ID: 4739395
• Report Number(s): IDO-28600
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BERYLLIUM OXIDES
BURNUP
COATING
CONFIGURATION
CRYSTALS
DIFFRACTION
EXPANSION
FAILURES
FISSION PRODUCTS
FUEL ELEMENTS
GASES
HIGH TEMPERATURE
IRRADIATION
MATERIALS TESTING
METALLOGRAPHY
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
ML-1
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTORS
SURFACES
URANIUM 235
URANIUM DIOXIDE
X RADIATION