U3Si2 behavior in H2O environments: Part II, pressurized water with controlled redox chemistry
Abstract
Recent interest in U3Si2 as an advanced light water reactor fuel has driven assessment of numerous properties, but characterization of its response to H2O environments is sparse in available literature. The behavior of U3Si2 in H2O containing atmospheres is investigated and presented in a two-part series of articles. This work examines the behavior of U3Si2 following exposure to pressurized H2O at temperatures from 300 to 350 °C. Testing was performed using two autoclave configurations and multiple redox conditions. Use of solid state buffers to attain a controlled water chemistry is also presented as a means to test actinide-bearing systems. Buffers were used to vary the hydrogen concentration between 1 and 30 parts per million H2. Testing included UN, U3Si5, and UO2. Both UN and U3Si5 were found to rapidly pulverize in less than 5 h at 300 °C. Uranium dioxide was included as a control for the autoclave system, and was found to be minimally impacted by exposure to pressurized water at the conditions tested for extended time periods. Testing of U3Si2 at 300 °C found reasonable stability through 30 days in 1–5 ppm H2. However, pulverization was observed following 35 days. The redox condition of testing strongly affected pulverization.more »
- Authors:
-
[1];
[1];
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); The Univ. of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1415427
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1505858
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-17-30040
Journal ID: ISSN 0022-3115; TRN: US1800820
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC52-06NA25396
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Nuclear Materials
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 500; 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; Material Science
Citation Formats
Nelson, Andrew Thomas, Migdisov, Artaches, Wood, Elizabeth Sooby, and Grote, Christopher John. U3Si2 behavior in H2O environments: Part II, pressurized water with controlled redox chemistry. United States: N. p., 2017.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.12.026.
Nelson, Andrew Thomas, Migdisov, Artaches, Wood, Elizabeth Sooby, & Grote, Christopher John. U3Si2 behavior in H2O environments: Part II, pressurized water with controlled redox chemistry. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.12.026
Nelson, Andrew Thomas, Migdisov, Artaches, Wood, Elizabeth Sooby, and Grote, Christopher John. Sat .
"U3Si2 behavior in H2O environments: Part II, pressurized water with controlled redox chemistry". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.12.026. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1415427.
@article{osti_1415427,
title = {U3Si2 behavior in H2O environments: Part II, pressurized water with controlled redox chemistry},
author = {Nelson, Andrew Thomas and Migdisov, Artaches and Wood, Elizabeth Sooby and Grote, Christopher John},
abstractNote = {Recent interest in U3Si2 as an advanced light water reactor fuel has driven assessment of numerous properties, but characterization of its response to H2O environments is sparse in available literature. The behavior of U3Si2 in H2O containing atmospheres is investigated and presented in a two-part series of articles. This work examines the behavior of U3Si2 following exposure to pressurized H2O at temperatures from 300 to 350 °C. Testing was performed using two autoclave configurations and multiple redox conditions. Use of solid state buffers to attain a controlled water chemistry is also presented as a means to test actinide-bearing systems. Buffers were used to vary the hydrogen concentration between 1 and 30 parts per million H2. Testing included UN, U3Si5, and UO2. Both UN and U3Si5 were found to rapidly pulverize in less than 5 h at 300 °C. Uranium dioxide was included as a control for the autoclave system, and was found to be minimally impacted by exposure to pressurized water at the conditions tested for extended time periods. Testing of U3Si2 at 300 °C found reasonable stability through 30 days in 1–5 ppm H2. However, pulverization was observed following 35 days. The redox condition of testing strongly affected pulverization. Characterization of the resulting microstructures suggests that the mechanism responsible for pulverization under more strongly reducing conditions differs from that previously identified. Hydride formation is hypothesized to drive this transition. In conclusion, testing performed at 350 °C resulted in rapid pulverization of U3Si2 in under 50 h.},
doi = {10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.12.026},
journal = {Journal of Nuclear Materials},
number = C,
volume = 500,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Dec 16 00:00:00 EST 2017},
month = {Sat Dec 16 00:00:00 EST 2017}
}
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