Characterization of U-Zr fuel with alloying additive Sb for immobilizing fission product lanthanides

Journal Article · 16 October 2017 · Journal of Nuclear Materials

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.10.039 · OSTI ID:1461091

Xie, Yi  ^[1]; Benson, Michael T.  ^[2]; King, James A.  ^[2]; Mariani, Robert D. ^[2]; Zhang, Jinsuo ^[1]

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1. Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)
2. Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Fission product lanthanides can migrate to the fuel periphery and enhance fuel-cladding chemical interaction (FCCI). Adding Sb into the fuel alloy to bind lanthanides and thus to prevent lanthanides from migration has been proposed. The U-Zr fuel alloys were fabricated with compositions of U-10Zr-4.1Sb, U-10Zr-4.1Sb-4Ce, U-10Zr-2.07Sb, and U-10Zr-2.07Sb-2Ce wt.% by arc melting, and analyzed under scanning electron microscope (SEM) for the microstructure and elemental compositions. In the Ce-free alloy, Sb was found in Sb-Zr precipitates; while in the Ce-contained alloy, Sb was found in the form of intermetallic compounds Ce₄Sb₃ and Ce₂Sb without any Sb-Zr precipitates. In conclusion, antimony has the preference to bind Ce over Zr, indicating Sb can effectively prevent Ce interaction with Fe to the extent. Cerium is bound to Sb and no ternary intermetallic Ce-Sb-Zr compound was found.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC07-05ID14517; NE0008574
• OSTI ID: 1461091
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1549422
• Report Number(s): INL-JOU-18-50160-Rev000; TRN: US1901950
• Journal Information: Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 498, Issue C; ISSN 0022-3115
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English