Development and Testing of an Advanced Neutron-Absorbing Gadolinium Alloy For Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2006 · Nuclear Technology

OSTI ID:912418

Mizia, Ronald E; Lister, Tedd E; Pinhero, Patrick J; Hurt, William L; Robino, Charles V; Stephens, John J; DuPont, John N

The U.S. Department of Energy requires nuclear criticality control measures for storage of its highly enriched spent nuclear fuel. A new alloy based on the Ni-Cr-Mo alloy system with a gadolinium addition has been developed. Gadolinium has been chosen as the neutron absorption alloying element because of its high thermal neutron absorption cross section. The metallurgical development, mechanical and physical properties, and the accelerated corrosion-testing performance of this Ni-Cr-Mo-Gd alloy will be described. A brief comparison is also included of the corrosion performance of this alloy as compared to borated stainless steel, which is a commonly used, neutron-absorbing, structural alloy.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE - EM
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC07-99ID-13727
• OSTI ID: 912418
• Report Number(s): INL/JOU-05-00946; NUTYBB; 05--M0745; TRN: US0800380
• Journal Information: Nuclear Technology, Vol. 155; ISSN 0029-5450
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 - MGMT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
36 - MATERIALS SCIENCE
ABSORPTION
ALLOY SYSTEMS
ALLOYS
CORROSION
CRITICALITY
CROSS SECTIONS
GADOLINIUM
GADOLINIUM ADDITIONS
GADOLINIUM ALLOYS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR FUELS
PERFORMANCE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
STAINLESS STEELS
STORAGE
TESTING
THERMAL NEUTRONS
gadolinium
neutron absorbing
spent fuel