Phase Characteristics of a Number of U-Pu-Am-Np-Zr Metallic Alloys for Use as Fast Reactor Fuels
Metallic fuel alloys consisting of uranium, plutonium, and zirconium with minor additions of americium and neptunium are under evaluation for potential use to transmute long-lived transuranic actinide isotopes in fast reactors. A series of test designs for the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI) have been irradiated in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), designated as the AFC-1 and AFC-2 designs. Metal fuel compositions in these designs have included varying amounts of U, Pu, Zr, and minor actinides (Am, Np). Investigations into the phase behavior and relationships based on the alloy constituents have been conducted using x-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis. Results of these investigations, along with proposed relationships between observed behavior and alloy composition, are provided. In general, observed behaviors can be predicted by a ternary U-Pu-Zr phase diagram, with transition temperatures being most dependent on U content. Furthermore, the enthalpy associated with transitions is strongly dependent on the as-cast microstructural characteristics.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE - NE
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC07-05ID14517
- OSTI ID:
- 974426
- Report Number(s):
- INL/JOU-09-15512; JNUMAM; TRN: US1002316
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 396, Issue 1; ISSN 0022-3115
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ACTINIDES
ALLOYS
AMERICIUM
DIFFERENTIAL THERMAL ANALYSIS
ENTHALPY
FAST REACTORS
FUEL CYCLE
NEPTUNIUM
PHASE DIAGRAMS
PLUTONIUM
TEST REACTORS
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
URANIUM
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
ZIRCONIUM
americium
metallic fuel alloys
neptunium
plutonium
uranium
zirconium