Title: Evaluation of the effects of neutron irradiation on first-generation corrosion mitigation coatings on SiC for accident-tolerant fuel cladding

Abstract

In this work, high purity SiC and SiC/SiC composites coated with commercial TiN, Cr, CrN, or CrN/Cr multilayer coatings were irradiated in Ar or flowing PWR water in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Nuclear Reactor Laboratory (MITR). Irradiation in Ar was performed in the core. In the water environment, identical samples were placed in one of three different locations: in-core, providing exposure to neutron damage and radiolysis-affected water; above-core, where samples were exposed to radiolysis-affected water but not neutron damage, or outside of the core, where samples were exposed to the coolant water without the effects of radiation. Radiation in Ar revealed significant cracking of all but the TiN coatings, attributed to differential swelling between the coating and substrate. Lattice swelling was not observed in any of the coatings, but 0.2% void swelling was observed in the Cr coating. All of the coatings failed during water exposures in the core. Likewise, CrN/Cr spalled in each condition. Cr was protective, except under radiation damage as a result of cracking, and TiN severely degraded in the core with no coating was found following exposure. A SiC/coating ATF cladding system is anticipated to perform adequately following improvements in coating ductility and purity.

Authors:

Doyle, Peter J.  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Doyle, Peter J."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-1182-0034"

Koyanagi, Takaaki  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Koyanagi, Takaaki"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-7272-4049"

Ang, Caen K.  ^[1];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-6011-9423"

Snead, Lance  ^[3];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-0798-5757"

Mouche, Peter A.  ^[2];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-4793-5754"

Katoh, Yutai  ^[4];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-9494-5862"

Raiman, Stephen S.  ^[2]

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-4801-5098"

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
3. Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States)
4. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Publication Date:

Tue May 05 00:00:00 EDT 2020

Research Org.:

Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Supply Chain. Advanced Fuel Campaign; USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)

OSTI Identifier:

1617463

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1618139; OSTI ID: 1649351

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC05-00OR22725

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Journal of Nuclear Materials

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 536; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0022-3115

Publisher:

Elsevier

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 42 ENGINEERING; SiC; ATF; accident-tolerant fuel cladding; TiN; CrN; Cr; coating; corrosion; neutron irradiation; ceramics; composites