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U.S. Department of Energy
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CORROSION TESTING OF URANIUM SILICIDE FUEL SPECIMENS.

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4822650
U{sub 3}Si is the most promising high density natural uranium fuel for water-cooled power reactors. Power reactors fuelled with this material are expected to produce cheaper electricity than those fuelled with uranium dioxide. Corrosion tests in 300 degC water preceded extensive in-reactor performance tests of fuel elements and bundles. Proper heat-treatment of U-3.9 wt% Si gives a U{sub 3}Si specimen which corrodes at less than 2 mg/cm{sup 2} h in 300 degC water. This is an order of magnitude lower than the maximum corrosion rate tolerable in a water-cooled reactor. U{sub 3}Si in a defected unbonded Zircaloy-2 sheath showed only a slow uniform sheath expansion in 300 degC water. All tests were done under isothermal conditions in an out-reactor loop.
Research Organization:
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River (Ontario) Canada. Chalk River Nuclear Labs.
NSA Number:
NSA-23-012388
OSTI ID:
4822650
Report Number(s):
AECL--2718
Country of Publication:
Canada
Language:
English