Effect of heat treatment on the microstructure of medium burn-up U-Mo monolithic fuel foils

Di Lemma, Fidelma Giulia; Trowbridge, Tammy L.; Jue, Jan-Fong; Salvato, Daniele; Anderson, Scott Thomas; Smith, Charlene A.; Miller, Brandon D.; Keiser, Jr., Dennis D.; Giglio, Jeffrey J.; Cole, James I.

doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2024.155002

Title: Effect of heat treatment on the microstructure of medium burn-up U-Mo monolithic fuel foils

Journal Article · 05 March 2024 · Journal of Nuclear Materials

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2024.155002 · OSTI ID:2372615

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Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States). Glenn T. Seaborg Institute

Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), this study evaluates the microstructure evolution of U-Mo fuel foils made with and without heat treatment at medium burn-up (of approximately 5 x 10²¹ f/cm³). The impact of annealing treatments on critical microstructural properties of the U-Mo fuel foils, including porosity, grain structure, Mo homogeneity, and fuel interaction with the Zr interlayer, was examined using large area lift outs (LALOs). The heat-treated specimens presented less grain refining at these burnups when compared to the un-heated specimens. Grain refinement was associated with porosities and fission products precipitation. Heat treatment can reduce fuel swelling during irradiation. Chemical inhomogeneity (Mo banding) was found to persist in the un-heated samples but was not present in the heat-treated samples. Thus, heat-treated U-Mo foils allows for more predictable fuel behavior under irradiation with respect to un-heated foils. The U-Mo and Zr interaction layer appears to be thicker and more continuous in the heat-treated sample which has been associated with stronger interface integrity during irradiation, as also observed in previous studies. These observations may indicate an overall improved performance of heat-treated fuel foil in a reactor. Further, the effect of local burn-up on grain size/refinement and porosities in each LALO specimen, sampled from different positions in the fuel foil, was difficult to analyze due to the large standard deviation of these parameters. Finally, evidence of grain refinement by polygonization may be present in these specimens.

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Research Organization:: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC07-05ID14517

OSTI ID:: 2372615

Report Number(s):: INL/JOU--23-74289-Rev000

Journal Information:: Journal of Nuclear Materials, Journal Name: Journal of Nuclear Materials Journal Issue: 15 Vol. 593; ISSN 0022-3115

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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