Phase relations for fuel-cladding interactions
Work on the compatibility of U-Pu-Zr alloy fuels with various cladding alloys has been reported by A.G. Hins. These results and subsequent detailed analyses have shown segregation and interaction bands whose causes are not obvious from an examination of the fuel-cladding interface itself. It became apparent during the course of this work that phase diagram information would be needed to understand these findings. In the absence of key ternary phase diagrams, a calculational method was employed which was developed by Professor A.D. Pelton and his colleagues at McGill University. We restricted our attention to ternary diagrams involving U, Pu, Fe, and Zr. At present, calculation of quaternary phase diagrams has not been undertaken. Some simplifications were introduced to reduce the time required for these calculations. Despite the limitations imposed, however, the calculated diagrams have been very valuable in understanding the interaction results obtained. In the sections that follow, a brief summary of the basis for the calculational method is given, the results of the phase diagram calculations are presented, and some implications for IFR fuel behavior are discussed.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 712838
- Report Number(s):
- ANL-IFR-54; ON: TI87025906
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Oct 1986
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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