Fuel constituent redistribution during the early stages of U-Pu-Zr irradiation

Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Metallurgical Transactions, A (Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02647234· OSTI ID:6072703

Porter, D L; Lahm, C E; Pahl, R G ^[1]

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1. Argonne National Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (US)

Irradiation and fission-related phenomena in metallic fuels based on the U-Pu-Zr system result in fuel restructuring in the forms of fuel swelling (Xe/Kr bubble growth) and constituent redistribution. An experiment designed to analyze the early development of these phenomena and the correlative behavior between them has recently been completed. Fuel porosity development was traced carefully as a function of fuel burnup. The results indicate that the porosity distributions would lead to significant changes in fuel operating temperature. Concurrent observations concerning composition redistribution indicate that the porosity development preceded significant constituent redistribution. The zirconium redistribution had been theorized to be related to the position of phase boundaries at specific locations within the thermal gradients existing in the fuel. The restructuring phenomena are analyzed in terms of how they may affect the existence of specific phases and, therefore, atomic migration.

• OSTI ID: 6072703
• Journal Information: Metallurgical Transactions, A (Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science); (USA), Journal Name: Metallurgical Transactions, A (Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science); (USA) Vol. 21:7; ISSN MTTAB; ISSN 0360-2133
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
220900 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360106* -- Metals & Alloys-- Radiation Effects
440200 -- Radiation Effects on Instrument Components
Instruments
or Electronic Systems
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ACTINIDE ALLOYS
ALLOYS
ATOM TRANSPORT
BUBBLES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DIFFUSION
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL PINS
GASES
GRAIN BOUNDARIES
IRRADIATION
KRYPTON
METALS
MICROSTRUCTURE
NEUTRAL-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
NONMETALS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
PLUTONIUM ALLOYS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION TRANSPORT
RARE GASES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR SAFETY EXPERIMENTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
URANIUM ALLOYS
XENON
ZIRCONIUM
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS