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Title: The effect of aluminum additions on the oxidation resistance of U3Si2

Abstract

The effect of aluminum additions to U3Si2 is investigated in this paper as a means to improve the oxidation resistance of this nuclear fuel form. Four U-Si-Al compositions have been synthesized and characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction. The onsets of breakaway oxidation are identified in air thermal ramp tests using thermogravimetric analysis. The final oxidation products following 1000° C air exposure are identified using x-ray diffraction and compared to those of UO2 and U metal oxidized in the same manner. Finally, thermogravimetric data acquired in this study indicates that increasing amounts of Al in U3Si2 further delays the onset of breakaway oxidation, providing enhanced oxidation resistance in air. Al2O3 formation on U3Al2Si3 is observed following a heat treatment performed at 500° C in air, demonstrating the potential of Al additions to improve the oxidation resistance of U3Si2.

Authors:
 [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Fuel Cycle Technologies (NE-5); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
OSTI Identifier:
1412882
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1396905
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-17-30757
Journal ID: ISSN 0022-3115; TRN: US1800390
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-06NA25396
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Journal of Nuclear Materials
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 489; Journal ID: ISSN 0022-3115
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS

Citation Formats

Wood, E. Sooby, White, J. T., and Nelson, A. T. The effect of aluminum additions on the oxidation resistance of U3Si2. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.02.045.
Wood, E. Sooby, White, J. T., & Nelson, A. T. The effect of aluminum additions on the oxidation resistance of U3Si2. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.02.045
Wood, E. Sooby, White, J. T., and Nelson, A. T. Sat . "The effect of aluminum additions on the oxidation resistance of U3Si2". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.02.045. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1412882.
@article{osti_1412882,
title = {The effect of aluminum additions on the oxidation resistance of U3Si2},
author = {Wood, E. Sooby and White, J. T. and Nelson, A. T.},
abstractNote = {The effect of aluminum additions to U3Si2 is investigated in this paper as a means to improve the oxidation resistance of this nuclear fuel form. Four U-Si-Al compositions have been synthesized and characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction. The onsets of breakaway oxidation are identified in air thermal ramp tests using thermogravimetric analysis. The final oxidation products following 1000° C air exposure are identified using x-ray diffraction and compared to those of UO2 and U metal oxidized in the same manner. Finally, thermogravimetric data acquired in this study indicates that increasing amounts of Al in U3Si2 further delays the onset of breakaway oxidation, providing enhanced oxidation resistance in air. Al2O3 formation on U3Al2Si3 is observed following a heat treatment performed at 500° C in air, demonstrating the potential of Al additions to improve the oxidation resistance of U3Si2.},
doi = {10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.02.045},
journal = {Journal of Nuclear Materials},
number = ,
volume = 489,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}

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Cited by: 36 works
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Works referenced in this record:

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Works referencing / citing this record:

A first-principles study on the influences of metal species Al, Zr, Mo and Tc on the mechanical properties of U 3 Si 2
journal, January 2020

  • Gao, Haigen; Liu, Yande; Hu, Jun
  • Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, Vol. 22, Issue 4
  • DOI: 10.1039/c9cp03814k