Three-dimensional microstructural characterization of bulk plutonium and uranium metals using focused ion beam technique

Chung, Brandon W.; Erler, Robert G.; Teslich, Nick E.

doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.01.041

Title: Three-dimensional microstructural characterization of bulk plutonium and uranium metals using focused ion beam technique

Journal Article · Thu Mar 03 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Journal of Nuclear Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.01.041· OSTI ID:1324519

Chung, Brandon W. ^[1]; Erler, Robert G. ^[1]; Teslich, Nick E. ^[1]

Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Nuclear forensics requires accurate quantification of discriminating microstructural characteristics of the bulk nuclear material to identify its process history and provenance. Conventional metallographic preparation techniques for bulk plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U) metals are limited to providing information in two-dimension (2D) and do not allow for obtaining depth profile of the material. In this contribution, use of dual-beam focused ion-beam/scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) to investigate the internal microstructure of bulk Pu and U metals is demonstrated. Our results demonstrate that the dual-beam methodology optimally elucidate microstructural features without preparation artifacts, and the three-dimensional (3D) characterization of inner microstructures can reveal salient microstructural features that cannot be observed from conventional metallographic techniques. As a result, examples are shown to demonstrate the benefit of FIB-SEM in improving microstructural characterization of microscopic inclusions, particularly with respect to nuclear forensics.

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Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 1324519

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1345244

Report Number(s):: LLNL-JRNL-679680

Journal Information:: Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 473, Issue C; ISSN 0022-3115

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 6 works

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