Examination of LiAlO/sub 2/ coproduct targets irradiated as PT-NR-57. Final report
Thirty-three Zr-2 canned coproduct targets of LiAlO/sub 2/ (lithium aluminate) were irradiated in N-reactor under production test PT-NR-57. These targets were irradiated to provide material for evaluation of a process for extracting tritium from lithium bearing ceramics and to evaluate the in-reactor performance of lithium bearing ceramic target elements fabricated by several processes. Each Zr-2 canned target, 1.250 in. ID x 25 in. long with either a 0.030 or 0.095 in. thick wall, contained two aluminum canned ceramic cores. The cores ultimately irradiated in this test were fabricated from lithium aluminate powder by one of the following processes: (1) Pressing and sintering to form pellets 1.12 in. diameter by approximately 2 /sup 1///sub 2/ in. long. (2) Bulk sintering, crushing, and vibratory compaction in aluminum tubes. (3) Direct encapsulation in aluminum by high energy techniques. The SZr-2 and aluminum can components of the targets showed no unusual features and appeared to perform their functions satisfactorily. Bulging of the aluminum end caps on two aluminum canned targets was caused by internal gas pressure but examination did not show any compromise of the can integrity. Gas release data was obtained by drilling into the aluminum cans of several elements. Measurement of the released gas volume and analysis of the released gases revealed that increasing the bulk density of the ceramic cores reduced the amount of gases released into the aluminum cans. Examination of the ceramic cores revealed no visible change in them as a result of irradiation. Other than the differences in the gas released from the cores there was no essential difference in the irradiation performance of the cores fabricated by the three techniques.
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, Wash. (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(45-1)-1830
- OSTI ID:
- 7346635
- Report Number(s):
- BNWL-CC-945
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Development of N-reactor coproduct target lithium aluminate pellet fabrication process
Tritium release from lithium silicate and lithium aluminate, in-reactor and out-of-reactor
Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360106* -- Metals & Alloys-- Radiation Effects
360605 -- Materials-- Radiation Effects
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
400703 -- Radiochemistry & Nuclear Chemistry-- Radioisotope Production
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALLOYS
ALUMINATES
ALUMINIUM
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
BARYONS
CANNING
CERAMICS
CHROMIUM ADDITIONS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
FABRICATION
FERMIONS
GRAPHITE MODERATED REACTORS
HADRONS
IRON ADDITIONS
IRON ALLOYS
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LWGR TYPE REACTORS
MATERIALS WORKING
METALS
N-REACTOR
NEUTRONS
NUCLEONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
PILE NEUTRONS
PLUTONIUM PRODUCTION REACTORS
POWER REACTORS
PRODUCTION REACTORS
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTORS
RECOVERY
TARGETS
TIN ALLOYS
TRITIUM RECOVERY
WATER COOLED REACTORS
ZIRCALOY
ZIRCALOY 2
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
ZIRCONIUM BASE ALLOYS