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Title: Three-dimensional microstructural characterization of bulk plutonium and uranium metals using focused ion beam technique

Abstract

Nuclear forensics requires accurate quantification of discriminating microstructural characteristics of the bulk nuclear material to identify its process history and provenance. Conventional metallographic preparation techniques for bulk plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U) metals are limited to providing information in two-dimension (2D) and do not allow for obtaining depth profile of the material. In this contribution, use of dual-beam focused ion-beam/scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) to investigate the internal microstructure of bulk Pu and U metals is demonstrated. Our results demonstrate that the dual-beam methodology optimally elucidate microstructural features without preparation artifacts, and the three-dimensional (3D) characterization of inner microstructures can reveal salient microstructural features that cannot be observed from conventional metallographic techniques. As a result, examples are shown to demonstrate the benefit of FIB-SEM in improving microstructural characterization of microscopic inclusions, particularly with respect to nuclear forensics.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1324519
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1345244
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-679680
Journal ID: ISSN 0022-3115
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-07NA27344
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Journal of Nuclear Materials
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 473; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0022-3115
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND RUEL MATERIALS; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY

Citation Formats

Chung, Brandon W., Erler, Robert G., and Teslich, Nick E. Three-dimensional microstructural characterization of bulk plutonium and uranium metals using focused ion beam technique. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.01.041.
Chung, Brandon W., Erler, Robert G., & Teslich, Nick E. Three-dimensional microstructural characterization of bulk plutonium and uranium metals using focused ion beam technique. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.01.041
Chung, Brandon W., Erler, Robert G., and Teslich, Nick E. Thu . "Three-dimensional microstructural characterization of bulk plutonium and uranium metals using focused ion beam technique". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.01.041. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1324519.
@article{osti_1324519,
title = {Three-dimensional microstructural characterization of bulk plutonium and uranium metals using focused ion beam technique},
author = {Chung, Brandon W. and Erler, Robert G. and Teslich, Nick E.},
abstractNote = {Nuclear forensics requires accurate quantification of discriminating microstructural characteristics of the bulk nuclear material to identify its process history and provenance. Conventional metallographic preparation techniques for bulk plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U) metals are limited to providing information in two-dimension (2D) and do not allow for obtaining depth profile of the material. In this contribution, use of dual-beam focused ion-beam/scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) to investigate the internal microstructure of bulk Pu and U metals is demonstrated. Our results demonstrate that the dual-beam methodology optimally elucidate microstructural features without preparation artifacts, and the three-dimensional (3D) characterization of inner microstructures can reveal salient microstructural features that cannot be observed from conventional metallographic techniques. As a result, examples are shown to demonstrate the benefit of FIB-SEM in improving microstructural characterization of microscopic inclusions, particularly with respect to nuclear forensics.},
doi = {10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.01.041},
journal = {Journal of Nuclear Materials},
number = C,
volume = 473,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Mar 03 00:00:00 EST 2016},
month = {Thu Mar 03 00:00:00 EST 2016}
}

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Cited by: 6 works
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Works referencing / citing this record:

From Historical Backgrounds to Recent Advances in 3D Characterization of Materials: An Overview
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