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Title: Alloys for inert matrix fuel compositions, and methods of making the same

Abstract

In one embodiment, an alloy includes: Zr; Fe; Cu; Ta in an amount from about 1 wt % to about 3 wt %; and one or more optional constituents selected from: Ti, Be, and Nb; and wherein the alloy comprises a ductile phase and a nanoprecipitate hard phase. According to another embodiment, a method of forming an inert matrix nuclear fuel includes: packing a hollow structure with fuel pellets and alloy precursor pellets; heating the fuel pellets and the alloy precursor pellets to at least a melting temperature of an alloy to be formed by melting the alloy precursor pellets; and solidifying the alloy into a matrix surrounding the fuel pellets. The alloy precursor pellets independently comprise: Zr; Fe; Cu; Ta present in an amount from about 1 to about 3 wt %; and one or more optional alloy constituents selected from: Ti, Be, and Nb.

Inventors:
;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1650829
Patent Number(s):
10636533
Application Number:
15/348,885
Assignee:
Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (Livermore, CA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C22 - METALLURGY C22C - ALLOYS
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC52-07NA27344
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 11/10/2016
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS

Citation Formats

Lordi, Vincenzo, and Turchi, Patrice Erne A. Alloys for inert matrix fuel compositions, and methods of making the same. United States: N. p., 2020. Web.
Lordi, Vincenzo, & Turchi, Patrice Erne A. Alloys for inert matrix fuel compositions, and methods of making the same. United States.
Lordi, Vincenzo, and Turchi, Patrice Erne A. Tue . "Alloys for inert matrix fuel compositions, and methods of making the same". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1650829.
@article{osti_1650829,
title = {Alloys for inert matrix fuel compositions, and methods of making the same},
author = {Lordi, Vincenzo and Turchi, Patrice Erne A.},
abstractNote = {In one embodiment, an alloy includes: Zr; Fe; Cu; Ta in an amount from about 1 wt % to about 3 wt %; and one or more optional constituents selected from: Ti, Be, and Nb; and wherein the alloy comprises a ductile phase and a nanoprecipitate hard phase. According to another embodiment, a method of forming an inert matrix nuclear fuel includes: packing a hollow structure with fuel pellets and alloy precursor pellets; heating the fuel pellets and the alloy precursor pellets to at least a melting temperature of an alloy to be formed by melting the alloy precursor pellets; and solidifying the alloy into a matrix surrounding the fuel pellets. The alloy precursor pellets independently comprise: Zr; Fe; Cu; Ta present in an amount from about 1 to about 3 wt %; and one or more optional alloy constituents selected from: Ti, Be, and Nb.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2020},
month = {4}
}